2 publishers · first seen Mon, 09 Nov 2026 00:00 UTC · updated Tue, 10 Nov 2026 02:28 UTC
In the latest Indian Olympic Association (IOA) Sportspersons of Outstanding Merit (SOM) election, PT Usha, the current IOA president, did not secure a spot among the four female SOMs, which was a surprise to her camp. Saina Nehwal, Anju Bobby George, Dola Banerjee, and Rani Rampal were elected as the four female SOMs. The male SOMs, Gagan Narang, Vijender Singh, Yogeshwar Dutt, and Kamlesh Mehta, were elected unopposed. The election was marked by controversy, with Usha lodging a complaint against Dola Banerjee for allegedly violating the Model Code of Conduct by circulating a WhatsApp message soliciting votes. The eight elected SOMs will join the IOA General Assembly and will be eligible to contest the December 5 elections for the IOA Executive Council.
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