PT Usha faces a major challenge in retaining the Indian Olympic Association presidency after finishing fifth in the Sportspersons of Outstanding Merit election. Anju Bobby George has qualified for the electoral college, raising the possibility of another Kerala athlete leading the IOA.
Forty-two years after narrowly missing an Olympic medal by just one-hundredth of a second, legendary Indian athlete P.T. Usha is facing another significant challenge, this time in sports administration, as her bid to retain the presidency of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) encounters uncertainty ahead of the December 5 elections.
The latest electoral college results have created difficulties for the 62-year-old incumbent president, while opening a potential opportunity for another celebrated athlete from Kerala, Anju Bobby George, to emerge as a contender for the country’s top Olympic administrative position.
Usha, who became the first woman to head the Indian Olympic Association in 2022, finished fifth in Monday’s election for the women’s Sportspersons of Outstanding Merit (SOM) category. She secured 40 votes, falling short of the four positions available for candidates to enter the electoral college.
Anju Bobby George topped the voting with 53 votes out of the 80 votes cast. Former Indian hockey captain Rani Rampal secured 50 votes, while former international archer Dola Banerjee received 45 votes. Badminton star Saina Nehwal finished fourth with 43 votes, completing the list of four successful candidates.
Usha’s failure to secure a place in the electoral college has complicated her efforts to contest for another presidential term. However, her chances of entering the presidential race are not entirely over. She could still become eligible through a nomination from one of the National Sports Federations, which have yet to announce their representatives for the upcoming election process.
Meanwhile, Anju Bobby George’s successful entry into the electoral college has strengthened her position within the IOA’s electoral framework. She is now eligible to contest the December 5 elections, creating an interesting possibility of a leadership contest involving two prominent athletes from Kerala.
Anju is among India’s most accomplished track-and-field athletes. She created history by winning the bronze medal in the women’s long jump at the 2003 World Athletics Championships, becoming the first Indian athlete to win a medal at the competition. Beyond her achievements on the field, she has also gained considerable experience in sports administration, having served as the senior vice-president of the Athletics Federation of India.
The two athletes represent different generations of Kerala’s athletics legacy. Usha, who hails from Payyoli in Kozhikode district, became one of India’s most celebrated track-and-field competitors through her outstanding performances at international events. Her sporting career reached a defining moment during the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, where she narrowly missed a medal in the women’s 400-metre hurdles final.
Usha finished fourth in the closely contested race, missing the bronze medal by just 0.01 seconds in a dramatic photo finish. That heartbreaking result became one of the most memorable moments in Indian Olympic history.
Anju, who comes from Changanassery in Kottayam district, established her international reputation through her historic long jump performance in 2003. Her achievements and administrative experience have now placed her in a significant position in the IOA’s upcoming electoral process.
The latest developments have made the December 5 IOA elections particularly interesting, with questions emerging over the future leadership of India’s Olympic administration. Usha’s experience as the incumbent president could remain an important factor if she manages to secure the necessary nomination from a National Sports Federation.
At the same time, Anju’s successful entry into the electoral college has introduced another potential leadership possibility for Kerala. Her international sporting achievements and experience in sports administration could strengthen her position in the presidential race.
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While the final outcome will depend on the electoral process and the nominations submitted by the National Sports Federations, Kerala’s representation in the country’s top Olympic administrative leadership remains a major talking point.
For Usha, the upcoming election represents another defining test after her narrow Olympic disappointment in 1984. For Anju, it could mark the beginning of a new chapter in her journey from international athletics to national sports leadership.
