Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President PT Usha has retained her eligibility to contest the executive council elections after the Ice Hockey Association of India (IHAI) nominated her as a General Body representative. ThePrint reported on November 12 that this appointment followed Usha’s failure to win a Sportspersons of Merit (SOM) seat. Scroll noted that the SOM defeat had weakened her re-election prospects, as those members form part of the electoral college. By securing a nomination through the ice hockey federation, Usha ensures her name remains on the list for the IOA polls scheduled for December 5.
The move has sparked immediate controversy within the sport’s administration. A faction of the IHAI, led by Kunzang Namgyal, submitted an objection letter to Electoral Officer Sanjay Kumar Srivastava on November 13. ThePrint reported that Ajit Kakkar, the faction’s vice-president, argued Usha is not a member of the IHAI. He cited Article 10.4 of the IOA Constitution, which requires nominees to be members of their respective National Sports Federations. The letter demanded verification of the resolution’s validity and the quorum present during the meeting that approved the nomination.
The dispute is intensified by the ongoing recognition crisis in Indian ice hockey. The IOA officially recognizes the IHAI led by president Gurpreet Singh Bakshi, with Harjinder Singh as secretary general. However, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports does not recognize any national ice hockey body. Kakkar’s letter asserted that the Namgyal-led faction is the legitimate governing body, citing elections held on August 2, 2026. He claimed Bakshi and Singh lack legal mandate and requested that Usha’s nomination be debarred as unlawful.
The Electoral Officer is currently scrutinizing objections to the provisional electoral college, with the final roll due on Sunday. The 71-member college includes eight SOMs, 60 NSF representatives, two Athletes’ Commission members, and an IOC representative. Usha’s nomination places her alongside contenders like Adille Sumariwalla and Gagan Narang. The outcome of the scrutiny will determine if her path to re-election remains open or if the nomination is struck down on technical grounds.