New Delhi, Nov 3 Olympic medallists PV Sindhu and Mirabai Chanu were among 10 sportspersons declared elected unopposed as members of the Athletes’ Commission of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) here on Tuesday.
With former track and field athlete Sudha Singh pulling out of the race late Monday night, there was no need to conduct the polls as only 10 candidates were left in the fray for the same number of seats.
Returning Officer Sanjay K Srivastava on Tuesday declared all the 10 candidates — five male and five female — to have been elected unopposed for a four-year term of 2026-2030.
Earlier on Monday, ace shuttler Kidambi Srikanth withdrew his candidature.
The chairperson and vice chairperson — one male and one female in either of the two — of the Athletes’ Commission shall be made members of the IOA Executive Council.
Two members — one male and one female — of the Athletes’ Commission will become members of the IOA General Body with voting rights. They will take part in the IOA Executive Council elections on December 5 as Athletes’ Commission representatives.
The elections for the chairperson and vice chairperson of the Athletes’ Commission, as well as the two representatives for the IOA General Body will be held later.
Besides ace shuttler Sindhu and weightlifter Chanu, the other members of the Athletes’ Commission are men’s and women’s hockey captains Harmanpreet Singh and Salima Tete, shooter Swapnil Kusale, fencer Bhavani Devi, shot putter Tajinderpal Singh Toor, former archer Bombayla Devi, swimmer Sajan Prakash and Manjeet Singh from kayaking and canoeing.
Sindhu, Chanu and Bhavani were also members of the outgoing Athletes’ Commission headed by celebrated boxer MC Mary Kom.
Harmanpreet, Sajan and Toor were elected unopposed as three male athletes who have participated in at least one of the last three editions of the Olympic Games.
Sindhu, Chanu and Bombayla Devi were elected unopposed as three female athletes who have participated in at least one of the last three editions of the Olympic Games.
Manjeet and Kusale were the only two male candidates who filed nominations under the category of sportspersons who have won at least one medal in any of the last three editions of the Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, World Championships/Cups or National Games.
Salima and Bhavani were the only two female candidates who filed nominations under the category of sportspersons who have won at least one medal in any of the last three editions of the Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, World Championships/Cups or National Games.
Under the IOA’s election rules, the 10-member Athletes’ Commission should have at least four athletes — two male and two female — who have won at least one medal in any of the last three editions of the Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, World Championships/Cups or National Games.
The remaining six members — three male and three female — should have participated in at least one of the last three editions of the Olympic Games.
On October 16, Srivastava had issued a list of 34 electoral college members — two each from 17 National Sports Federations — for the Athletes’ Commission election. But the 34 athletes’ representatives from their respective NSFs did not have to cast their votes on Tuesday as all the 10 members of the Athletes’ Commission were elected unopposed.
“Under the circumstances … the election of the Athletes’ Commission for 10 members, five (5) males and five (5) females, as scheduled on 3rd November 2026, will not serve any purpose as there is only one (1) candidate against one (1) post in each category of the members of the Athletes’ Commission,” the Returning Officer said.
The elections were to be held in virtual mode.
IOA Athletes’ Commission members: PV Sindhu (badminton), Mirabai Chanu (weightlifting), Harmanpreet Singh (hockey), Salima Tete (hockey), Swapnil Kusale (shooting), Bhavani Devi (fencing), Tajinderpal Singh Toor (athletics), Bombayla Devi (archery), Sajan Prakash (swimming) and Manjeet Singh (kayaking and canoeing).
(PTI News)
