PT Usha becomes the First woman President of the Indian Olympic Association

Legendary Indian track and field athlete PT Usha was named the President of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) on Monday following a nomination filed by the star sprinter on Saturday. The presidency makes Usha the first woman ever to hold the post.

Taking to Twitter, Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju, who was previously the union sports minister, congratulated Usha stating, “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!.”

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 ! pic.twitter.com/LSHHdmMy9H

— Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) November 27, 2022

On Saturday, Usha announced her nomination on Twitter stating, “With the warm support of my Fellow Athletes and National Federations I am humbled and honoured to accept and file for the Nomination of the President Of IOA!.”

With the warm support of my Fellow Athletes and National Federations I am humbled and honoured to accept and file for the Nomination of the President Of IOA!

— P.T. USHA (@PTUshaOfficial) November 26, 2022

It is pertinent to note that while the elections were to take place on December 10 of this year, Usha was named the head of the Olympic association on Monday as she was the only candidate who filed for the post.

Legendary sprinter of the yesteryears, Usha was nominated by Ex-President Ram Nath Kovind to become a member of the Rajya Sabha in July of this year. Currently, she is a member of the Board of Advisors of India’s International Movement to Unite Nations (I.I.M.U.N.). Usha also runs a sports academy for budding athletes.