IOA SOM election: PT Usha, Saina Nehwal among six women for four seats
By Priya NairLeadership & Growth Editor, Peepals Shakti
Representative image: elpablot / Pixabay
PT Usha, Saina Nehwal and four other former athletes are contesting four women's SOM seats in the IOA, ahead of the 5 December 2026 council election.
What Happened
Six women, including Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president PT Usha and Olympic medallist Saina Nehwal, are contesting four women's seats for Sportspersons of Outstanding Merit (SOM) in the IOA, in a poll that most reports said was scheduled for Monday, 9 November 2026. The other candidates are Anju Bobby George, Dola Banerjee, Rani Rampal and Anitha Paul Durai. All four men's SOM seats were filled unopposed after the withdrawal deadline on Saturday, 7 November, by Gagan Narang, Vijender Singh, Yogeshwar Dutt and Kamlesh Mehta. The SOM vote comes ahead of the IOA Executive Council election on Saturday, 5 December 2026.
Key Facts
- Women's SOM contest: six candidates for four seats, PT Usha, Saina Nehwal, Anju Bobby George, Dola Banerjee, Rani Rampal and Anitha Paul Durai.
- Five women candidates withdrew before the 7 November deadline, according to reports.
- Men's SOM seats: Gagan Narang, Vijender Singh, Yogeshwar Dutt and Kamlesh Mehta were elected unopposed.
- The eight elected SOMs become members of the IOA General Assembly and can take part in the 5 December Executive Council election.
- One male and one female SOM representative will also get places on the IOA Executive Council.
- PT Usha is the IOA's current president; Saina Nehwal's name has been linked in reports to a possible challenge for the top post, though her candidature for president has not been formally established.
- The poll result had not been published at the time of writing.
Why It Matters
Sportspersons of Outstanding Merit are elite former athletes who sit in the IOA's governing bodies, giving athletes a direct voice in how Olympic sport in India is run. The women's SOM seats are a dedicated route for women athletes into sports administration.
The women's field includes the current IOA president, Olympic medallist Saina Nehwal, World Athletics Championships bronze medallist Anju Bobby George, former archer Dola Banerjee, a former India hockey captain in Rani Rampal and a former basketball player in Anitha Paul Durai. With only four seats, at least two of them will miss out.
The poll also matters for the IOA's leadership. Since SOMs join the General Assembly and can contest the December Executive Council election, the outcome shapes who can stand for top posts. Reports describe the contest as a test of PT Usha's standing ahead of the December vote, with Saina Nehwal's possible role drawing attention.
For young women athletes, the contest shows that a sporting career can lead into governance. Former champions sitting on the bodies that decide funding, selection rules and athlete welfare can bring an athlete's view into those decisions.
Peepals calculation: With six women contesting four seats, two candidates will not be elected, so one in three will miss out (2 ÷ 6 ≈ 0.33). Of the eight SOM seats in total, two will go to the Executive Council, one for a man and one for a woman, a quarter of the SOMs (2 ÷ 8 = 0.25). Our calculation from the reported figures.
| Seat | Candidates | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Male SOMs (four seats) | Gagan Narang, Vijender Singh, Yogeshwar Dutt, Kamlesh Mehta | Elected unopposed |
| Female SOMs (four seats) | PT Usha, Saina Nehwal, Anju Bobby George, Dola Banerjee, Rani Rampal, Anitha Paul Durai | Poll held, result awaited |
| IOA Executive Council | To be decided | Election on 5 December 2026 |
Impact
Short-term: The result of the women's SOM poll will settle which four women athletes join the IOA General Assembly and become eligible to take part in the December election.
Long-term: The make-up of the SOM group and the December vote will decide the IOA's leadership for its next term, affecting decisions on Olympic preparation, athlete welfare and sports governance in India.
Who is affected: The six women candidates, the IOA and its member federations, Indian athletes preparing for future Olympics, and sports administrators.
What to watch next: The IOA Executive Council election is due on Saturday, 5 December 2026.
Key Takeaway
PT Usha, Saina Nehwal and four other former stars are contesting four women's Sportspersons of Outstanding Merit seats in the IOA, a vote that shapes who can stand in the 5 December 2026 Executive Council election.
Questions and Answers
Who are the women candidates in the IOA SOM election?
PT Usha, Saina Nehwal, Anju Bobby George, Dola Banerjee, Rani Rampal and Anitha Paul Durai are contesting four women's Sportspersons of Outstanding Merit seats.
Who was elected unopposed as male SOMs in the IOA?
Gagan Narang, Vijender Singh, Yogeshwar Dutt and Kamlesh Mehta were elected unopposed to the four male SOM seats.
What is an IOA Sportsperson of Outstanding Merit?
SOMs are distinguished former athletes who become members of the Indian Olympic Association's General Assembly. One male and one female SOM also get seats on the IOA Executive Council.
When is the IOA Executive Council election?
The IOA Executive Council election is scheduled for Saturday, 5 December 2026.
Disclaimer: Prepared by the Peepals newsroom from publicly available sources with AI assistance. Information is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication and may change. Images may be representative. Not professional advice. Report an error via our contact page.
By Priya Nair, Leadership & Growth EditorCovers Leadership & Growth and more for Peepals Shakti. All stories by Priya Nair
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Priya Nair is a pen name of the Peepals Global Editorial Team, which researches, fact-checks and publishes every story. The portrait is an illustration.
