Historic! PT Usha to become first woman president of Indian Olympic Association

Legendary sprinter P T Usha is set to become the first woman president of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) in the sports body's 95-year-long history. She will also be the first Olympian and an international medallist to head the national Olympic committee, which goes to polls on December 10.

 

The 58-year-old multiple Asian Games gold medallist emerged as the lone candidate to file the nomination for IOA president's post. Returning officer Umesh Sinha didn't receive any nominations on first two days of filing the papers on Friday and Saturday, but 24 candidates applied for various office-bearers' posts on Sunday.

 

Union Minister of Law and Justice Kiren Rijiju congratulated the legendary Indian athlete. "Congratulations to legendary Golden Girl, Smt. P T Usha on being elected as the President of Indian Olympic Association. I also congratulate all the sporting heroes of our country on becoming the office bearers of the prestigious IOA! Nation is proud of them," the Arunachal Pradesh MP tweeted.

 

 

Fondly known as the 'Payyoli Express', Usha will be the first sportsperson to have played for the country at the highest level and also become the IOA chief since Maharaja Yadavindra Singh, who featured in a cricket Test match in 1934. Usha retired in 2000 after dominating the Indian and Asian athletics for close to two decades.

She won 11 Asian Games medals, including four gold in a single edition at the 1986 Seoul meet, while clinching an astonishing 23 medals, including 14 gold, at the Asian Championships from 1983 to 1998.