PT Usha to be named IOA chief

Former track and field star PT Usha will take over as the first woman president of the Indian Olympic Association, becoming the first former international athlete to head the organisation in more than 60 years.

The 58-year-old multiple Asian Games gold medallist was the only candidate to file a nomination for the post by the deadline. Former sports and current law minister Kiren Rijiju congratulated her on Twitter, calling her a “legendary Golden Girl”.

Cricket-obsessed India regularly struggles to win Olympic medals despite its 1.4b population, with a total of only 35 since 1900.