PT Usha loses IOA SOM poll; Anju, Rani, Dola, Saina elected
Synopsis
PT Usha, the sitting IOA president, has been voted out of the female SOM category, finishing fifth behind Anju Bobby George, Rani Rampal, Dola Banerjee and Saina Nehwal. With NSF nominations still pending, the December 5 presidential election is now Gagan Narang's race to lose — and Usha's to somehow survive.
Key Takeaways
PT Usha finished fifth in the IOA women's SOM poll on 9 November 2026 , receiving 40 votes — insufficient for any of the four available seats.
Anju Bobby George topped the poll with 53 votes ; Saina Nehwal was fourth with 43 votes .
Usha is currently ineligible to contest the IOA presidential election on 5 December 2026 , unless nominated by an NSF.
Male SOMs — Gagan Narang , Yogeshwar Dutt , Vijender Singh , and Kamlesh Mehta — were elected unopposed on Saturday.
The results are seen as a boost for Gagan Narang , who has emerged as the frontrunner for the IOA presidency.
Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president and celebrated athletics legend PT Usha suffered a significant electoral setback on 9 November 2026 in New Delhi, failing to secure one of the four female Sportsperson of Outstanding Merit (SOM) seats on the IOA board — a result that now puts her bid for re-election as IOA chief in serious jeopardy. The poll was marked by allegations of interference, with reports describing the process as acrimonious and contentious.
The Poll Results
According to reports, Anju Bobby George topped the women's SOM poll with 53 votes, followed by Rani Rampal, Dola Banerjee, and Saina Nehwal, who finished fourth with 43 votes. Usha finished fifth with just 40 votes, falling short of the four available spots. Six sportswomen were in contention, and after extensive discussions and reported attempts at persuasion, four were elected on Monday.
What This Means for Usha's Presidential Bid
With the failure to secure a SOM seat, PT Usha is currently ineligible to contest the IOA presidential election scheduled for 5 December 2026. However, her prospects are not entirely extinguished. The National Sports Federations (NSFs) are yet to nominate their representatives, and Usha could potentially remain in the running if picked by one of them. Whether she can engineer such a turnaround remains to be seen.
Male SOM Elected Unopposed
In contrast to the contested women's poll, the male SOM positions were filled without dispute on Saturday. Olympic medallists Gagan Narang, Yogeshwar Dutt, and Vijender Singh, along with table tennis legend Kamlesh Mehta, were all elected unopposed as male Sportspersons of Outstanding Merit. The IOA board reserves eight positions — four male and four female — for Sportspersons of Outstanding Merit.
Political Undercurrents and the Narang Factor
The SOM elections carry clear political undertones. Three of the four male SOMs — Yogeshwar Dutt, Vijender Singh, and Gagan Narang — are reportedly close to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), with Yogeshwar and Vijender being party members. Saina Nehwal is also a BJP member, while PT Usha herself is a Rajya Sabha member elected with BJP's support. Notably, Nehwal's election ahead of Usha suggests the internal arithmetic did not favour the sitting IOA president.
The overall outcome of the SOM selections is widely seen as bolstering incumbent IOA vice-president Gagan Narang, who has emerged as the frontrunner for the December presidential election. Narang has reportedly shifted base from Hyderabad to Ahmedabad, reportedly consolidating support from the Gujarat lobby within the BJP.
What Happens Next
All eyes are now on the NSF nominations, which will determine whether Usha can find an alternative path into the IOA presidential race. The IOA presidential election on 5 December 2026 is shaping up to be a defining moment for Indian sports governance, with Narang currently holding the momentum.
Point of View
A Rajya Sabha member with BJP backing, outpolled by a fellow BJP member in Saina Nehwal. It signals that formal political affiliation alone does not translate into electoral clout within sports bodies — factional loyalties, regional blocs, and backroom negotiations matter far more. Narang's shift from Hyderabad to Ahmedabad, reportedly to consolidate the Gujarat lobby, tells you everything about how IOA elections are actually won. The deeper concern is governance: an election process described as 'acrimonious' with 'allegations of interference' ahead of the main December vote does not inspire confidence in the institutional health of Indian Olympic sports administration.
NationPress
9 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did PT Usha lose the IOA SOM election?
PT Usha finished fifth in the women's Sportsperson of Outstanding Merit poll with 40 votes, while only four spots were available. She was outpolled by Anju Bobby George (53 votes), Rani Rampal, Dola Banerjee, and Saina Nehwal (43 votes), amid reports of intense lobbying and allegations of interference.
Can PT Usha still contest the IOA presidential election?
As of now, Usha is ineligible for the IOA presidential election scheduled for 5 December 2026, having missed the SOM route. However, she could still enter the race if nominated by one of the National Sports Federations (NSFs), whose nominations are yet to be finalised.
Who is now the frontrunner to become IOA president?
Incumbent IOA vice-president Gagan Narang is widely seen as the frontrunner following the SOM elections, having been elected unopposed as a male SOM. He has reportedly shifted base from Hyderabad to Ahmedabad and is said to have consolidated support from the Gujarat lobby.
What is the Sportsperson of Outstanding Merit (SOM) category in the IOA?
The IOA board reserves eight seats — four male and four female — for Sportspersons of Outstanding Merit (SOM). These are elite athletes recognised for their achievements, and securing a SOM seat is one of the qualifying routes to contest the IOA presidential election.
When is the IOA presidential election scheduled?
The IOA presidential election is scheduled for 5 December 2026. The SOM elections held this week determine part of the electorate and eligibility criteria for presidential candidates.
