Former IOA chief Nardiner Dhruv Batra challenges PT Usha and Harpal Singh nominations to IOA electoral college
Former Indian Olympic Association president Nardiner Dhruv Batra on 2026-11-14 wrote to IOA officials contesting the eligibility of IOA President PT Usha and Executive Committee member Harpal Singh after their names appeared in the provisional Electoral College for the upcoming IOA elections. Batra lodged the objections with IOA Executive Officer Srivastava, seeking documentary verification of their membership and nominations.
PT Usha had failed to secure a place through the Sportspersons of Outstanding Merit (SOM) election, finishing fifth in the women's category with 40 votes, behind Anju Bobby George (53), Rani Rampal (50), Dola Banerjee (45) and Saina Nehwal (43); only the top four were eligible to qualify. Despite that result, Usha was listed in the provisional Electoral College as the female nominee of the Ice Hockey Association of India (IHAI), with Harjinder Singh named alongside her, while Harpal Singh is shown as a nominee via Ski and Snowboard India.
In his letter to Srivastava, Batra requested production of Usha's original membership application to the IHAI, the date of her induction, the membership category under which she was admitted and the constitutional provision that authorised her admission. "The resolution of the competent body approving her membership, the relevant entry in the organization's official membership register, and the original nomination and organization resolution of the competent governing body (should be verified)," Batra wrote.
Batra also directed the IOA officer to independently verify the standing and recognition of the Ice Hockey Association of India, explicitly asking for scrutiny of its affiliation with the relevant international federation. He asked for the IHAI's current constitution, membership records, audited financial statements and the minutes or resolution of its latest General Body meeting that authorised Usha's nomination.
On Harpal Singh's nomination through Ski and Snowboard India, Batra queried the federation's statutory status and whether Singh possessed the authority to represent it in the IOA General Body. He sought clarity on Singh's membership category and whether his admission complied with the eligibility criteria in the constitution of Ski and Snowboard India.
Regarding documentary proof for Singh, Batra requested the original membership application, the resolution confirming his admission and ratification, and the corresponding entry in the organisation's membership register. He asked that these items be verified as part of the objections process.
The window for filing objections to the provisional Electoral College closes on Friday. The Electoral Officer is scheduled to scrutinise and verify the submissions and decide on the objections on Saturday, and the final electoral roll is expected to be published on Sunday.