Four Men Elected Unopposed as IOA SOM Representatives

Four men have been elected unopposed as Sportspersons of Outstanding Merit (SOM) representatives to the Indian Olympic Association, while six women are contesting four remaining positions in an election that will feed into the association’s December 5 Executive Council vote.

Gagan Narang, Yogeshwar Dutt, Vijender Singh and Kamlesh Mehta secured the four male SOM seats after eight of 12 candidates withdrew. With four candidates left for four positions, the scheduled male election was called off. The results were announced ahead of the women’s vote, scheduled to take place online on November 9.

The women seeking four places are IOA president PT Usha, Olympic medallist Saina Nehwal, former long jumper Anju Bobby George, former archer Dola Banerjee, former hockey captain Rani Rampal and former basketball player Anitha Paul Durai. Five women withdrew before the November 7 deadline, leaving the women’s category as the only contested part of the SOM elections.

The SOM representatives become members of the IOA General Assembly, where they can vote and stand in the December 5 Executive Council election. One male and one female SOM representative will also secure places on the council. The...