PT Usha faces eligibility questions over Ice Hockey nomination ahead of IOA elections

A formal objection has challenged PT Usha's nomination as an IHAI representative for the IOA elections. The dispute puts her membership eligibility and the federation's authority under scrutiny.

The controversy surrounding the Indian Olympic Association's (IOA) December 5 elections has taken another turn, with a formal objection being raised against President PT Usha's nomination as a representative of the Ice Hockey Association of India (IHAI). The challenge centres on whether Usha meets the constitutional requirement to represent a national sports federation of which she is alleged to have no membership.

Supreme Court advocate Atul Kumar submitted the objection to Electoral Officer Sanjay Kumar Srivastava on November 13, seeking verification of Usha's eligibility under Article 10.4 of the IOA Constitution, 2026. The provision states that representatives nominated by National Sports Federations (NSFs) must be members of the respective bodies.

The development comes after Usha failed to secure a place through the Sportspersons of Outstanding Merit (SOM) elections. She finished fifth in the women's category with 40 votes, behind Anju Bobby George (53), Rani Rampal (50), Dola Banerjee (45) and Saina Nehwal (43). With only the top four candidates qualifying, the IOA president missed out on a place in the General Body through the SOM route.

Her name subsequently appeared in the provisional Electoral College as IHAI's female representative, alongside Harjinder Singh. The nomination offered Usha another possible route into the General Body and kept her electoral prospects alive. However, questions over her membership and the authority of the nominating federation have now put that route under scrutiny.

The latest objection adds to a series of disputes surrounding the IOA elections. Olympic champion Abhinav Bindra has questioned the clarity of the SOM election rules, while former sprinter Ashwini Nachappa has alleged that candidates were pressured into withdrawing from the process. The challenge to Usha's nomination has now brought the eligibility of Electoral College representatives into focus.

USHA'S ICE HOCKEY MEMBERSHIP UNDER QUESTION

Kumar has asked the Electoral Officer to establish whether Usha is a registered member of IHAI and, if so, the category under which she was admitted. His representation seeks scrutiny of her membership application, the date of approval, the federation's original membership register and the constitutional provisions governing her induction.

The objection also questions the validity of Form EC-1 submitted in support of the nomination. Kumar has sought verification of the signatures, authorisation and resolution through which Usha was selected as a representative. He has requested that her nomination not be treated as final until the relevant records are examined. If the mandatory membership requirement is not established, he has sought her removal from the final Electoral College.

RIVAL IHAI FACTIONS ENTER THE ROW

The challenge has become more complicated because the administration of Indian ice hockey is itself embroiled in a dispute. A faction led by Kunzang Namgyal has separately objected to the nomination of Usha and Harjinder Singh, arguing that the leadership which put forward their names does not have a valid mandate.

In a letter to the Electoral Officer, Ajit Kakkar, who identifies himself as a vice-president of the Namgyal-led faction, claimed that Usha was not a member of IHAI.

"It is pertinent to note that Ms. P T Usha is not a member of the Ice Hockey Association of India and yet she has been nominated as one of the delegates thereby falsely implying that she is a member of the nominating federation," the letter stated.

Kakkar also questioned the authority of IHAI president Gurpreet Singh Bakshi and secretary general Harjinder Singh, arguing that their tenure and mandate needed to be established. His faction claimed that it had the legitimate authority to administer the sport following elections held on August 2, 2026. The Sports Ministry, however, does not recognise any national governing body for ice hockey, with rival factions continuing to contest control of the federation.

IOC EXPRESSES CONCERN OVER IOA DISPUTES

The controversy has also reached the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Sports administrator KP Rao approached the international body, seeking intervention in the IOA election process and requesting the appointment of an observer to oversee the polls.

The IOC expressed disappointment over the developments, describing the situation as extremely regrettable and saying it was once again affecting the functioning and reputation of the Olympic Movement in India. It urged those responsible for conducting the elections to ensure full compliance with the Olympic Charter.

In a separate representation, Kumar has sought the disclosure of a forensic audit of IOA accounts covering the period from 2019 to 2022. He alleged that although the audit had been completed, its findings had not been placed before the Executive Council or General Assembly. He has asked for the complete report to be examined and any findings referred to the IOA Ethics Commission before the nomination scrutiny process.

The representation raises questions about the handling of the audit but does not establish financial wrongdoing by any individual.

The Electoral Officer is scheduled to examine and dispose of objections before publishing the final electoral roll. With the December 5 polls approaching, the dispute over Usha's nomination has become another flashpoint in an election process facing mounting questions over eligibility, transparency and the administration of Indian sport.