New Delhi, Dec 14:
International Hockey Federation chief Narinder Batra was today elected as president of Indian Olympic Association for a four-year term by an overwhelming majority in the polls held at its Annual General Meeting here.
The 60-year-old Batra secured 142 votes while his rival Anil Khanna got 13 in a two-way contest in the polls held under the supervision of a three-member Election Commission, comprising an retired High Court justices. S K Mendiratta, a legal advisor to the Election Commission of India, was the returning officer.
Batra’s election to the top post was on expected lines after Khanna, a former All India Tennis Association president, ‘withdrew’ from the contest in a surprised move. But there was an election for the president’s post as Khanna sent the withdrawal letter to the IOA-appointed Election Commission after the stipulated deadline of December 3.
Incumbent Secretary General Rajeev Mehta was re-elected for his second term without any contest as he was the lone candidate for the post.
Batra thus has become one of the few sports administrators who heads an important international federation as well as a National Olympic Committee.
Meanwhile, Anandeshwar Pandey was elected as the treasurer after he defeated Rakesh Gupta by 113 to 37 votes. R K Anand defeated J S Gehlot by 96 votes to 35 for the post of the senior vice president.
The election results will, however, be subject to the final decision of the Delhi High Court that yesterday refused to stay the polls on a petition filed by lawyer Rahul Mehra.
Just after winning the election, Batra said that he would take a proposal to the government to host the 2032 Olympics, 2030 Asian Games and 2026 Commonwealth Games.(PTI)
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel