India, Nov. 9 -- Indian Olympic Association president PT Usha on Monday lost the elections to the Sportsperson of Outstanding Merit (SOM) on Monday, dealing a big blow to her aspirations of running for a second term. Usha was an incumbent SOM in the IOA executive body who was then elected as president in 2022.

The defeat means Usha has lost her position in the IOA executive body, with the apex sports body's polls scheduled to be held on December 5.

On Monday, the four SOMs elected were former long jump champion Anju Bobby George, former hockey captain Rani Rampal, ex-archery Olympian Dola Banerjee and badminton ace Saina Nehwal. The result of the SOM election, held online, was announced by returning officer Sanjay Kumar Srivastava.

Ush...