New Delhi, Oct. 21 -- Several prominent Indian athletes and Olympic medallists have thrown their hats into the ring to be elected as Sportspersons of Outstanding Merit (SOMs) in the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) elections. The election of SOMs is expected to play an important role in IOA polls, especially in the contest for the president's post. The election of the IOA Executive Council is scheduled for Dec 5, 2026, ahead of the completion of the present executive council's term on Dec 10. Current IOA president PT Usha, who was elected to the top post as a SOM in 2022, figures in the SOM roster of 40 men and 40 women prepared by returning officer Sanjay K Srivastava on Tuesday after scrutiny of applications. The SOM election will be held on Nov 5. There will be eight (four men and four women) SOMs in the IOA General Assembly. "From the eight elected SOMs, one male and one female SOM, shall be elected to IOA Executive Council," says the IOA Constitution. Some of the top male athletes whose names figure in the SOM roster include Beijing Olympics gold medallist shooter Abhinav Bindra; London Olympics medallists Gagan Narang and Yogeshwar Dutt, who are incumbent SOMs in the IOA; Olympic medallist boxer Vijender Singh; and table tennis stalwart Achanta Sharath Kamal, currently the vice-chairman of the Athletes Commission. Former AFI president and Olympian Adille Sumariwalla has also thrown his hat into the ring. Kamlesh Mehta, Ronjon Sodhi, Sardar Singh, Om Prakash Karhana, Jayanta Talukdar and Samresh Jung are also there....