Shiva Keshavan, a six-time Winter Olympian, withdrew his name from consideration for an executive council member position on Saturday in advance of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) elections.
Shiva Keshavan’s withdrawal from the IOA elections means there will be no vice presidential candidate
Rajlaxmi Singh Deo, president of the Rowing Federation of India, will be elected without opposition to the position of vice president (female) on December 10 after Alaknanda Ashok, president of the Badminton Association of India, withdrew on the final withdrawal day.
In order to prevent “division of votes” among candidates from winter sports, Keshavan, who had submitted nomination papers for one of the four posts of the regular executive council members, withdrew his name from consideration.
Candidates for executive council members include Amitabh Sharma of the Ice Skating Association of India and Harjinder Singh of the Ice Hockey Association of India.
“I made the decision to withdraw since having three participants in winter sports split the vote made no sense. Winter sports would not have been included, according to Keshavan of the Indian Luge Federation, who spoke to PTI.
Shalini Thakur Chawla, Digvijay Chautala, and Prashant Kushwaha were the other three candidates who withdrew from the race for an executive council seat. As a result of their departure, there are now only eight candidates vying for four executive council spots.
Shalini withdrew her application for the position of joint secretary (female) as well, clearing the way for Netball Federation of India’s Alaknanda Ashok and Suman Kaushik to compete directly. Shalini represents the All India Tennis Association (AITA) in the electoral college.
Shalini Thakur Chawla, Digvijay Chautala, and Prashant Kushwaha were the other three candidates who withdrew from the race for an executive council seat. As a result of their departure, there are now only eight candidates vying for four executive council spots.
Kalyan Chaubey, president of the All India Football Federation (AIFF), would be chosen unopposed for the position of joint secretary (male) in the elections.
Only the election of a female joint secretary and four members of the executive council will take place at the IOA polls.
Keshavan, a participant in the recently established IOA Athletes Commission, added that he had been given the guarantee that, following the elections, a separate commission for winter sports will be established.
The 58-year-old Usha, who won several gold medals at the Asian Games and placed fourth in the 400-meter hurdles final at the 1984 Olympics, will lead the IOA for the first time in its 95-year history as both an Olympian and an international medalist.
She was elected to the electoral college as one of the eight Sportspersons of Outstanding Merit (SOM) chosen by the IOA’s Athletes Commission.
Additionally, Ajay Patel of the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) would be chosen without opposition as senior vice-president. Gagan Narang, an Olympic medalist in shooting, is the sole man running for the position of male vice president.