New Delhi, India, November 27, 2022: Legendary track and field athlete PT Usha will contest the President’s post in the upcoming Indian Olympic Association (IOA) elections.
“With the warm support of my fellow athletes and National Federations, I am humbled and honoured to accept and file for the nomination of the president of IOA!” PT Usha tweeted on Saturday, November 26.
The last date for filing of nominations is Sunday, November 27. The IOA executive committee election will take place on December 10, with an electoral college of 77 members, including the star sprinter.
Usha was among the eight Sportspersons of Outstanding Merit (SOMs) selected by the Athletes’ Commission of the IOA last week. Boxing legend Mary Kom is the President of the Athletes’ Commission, while table tennis player Sharath Kamal is her deputy.
“Golden Girl” Usha, 54, is one of the greatest athletes to have ever come out of India. She won four gold medals at the 1986 Asian Games in Seoul – 200m, 400m, 400m hurdles and 4x400m relay - and seven silvers at the Asian Games from 1982 to 1994.
She missed out on a podium place in the women’s 400m hurdles at the Los Angeles 1984 Olympics by 1/100th of a second. Her timing of 55.42 secs in LA is still an Indian national record.
