Neither will have voting rights in IOA polls; Mirabai Chanu and Sajan Prakash secure voting positions
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The Indian Olympic Association is holding elections on Dec 5. The Athletes' Commission elects its chairperson and vice-chairperson, but under a broken convention, the top two office-bearers do not exercise voting rights in the IOA polls. Instead, two athlete representatives hold voting positions in the general assembly.
Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu has been elected chairperson of the Indian Olympic Association's (IOA) Athletes' Commission, with India men's hockey captain Harmanpreet Singh named vice-chairperson, in an interesting development ahead of the Dec 5 elections of the national Olympic committee. However, neither will exercise voting rights in the IOA polls, breaking with the convention of the commission's top two office-bearers representing athletes in the general assembly. Instead, Tokyo Olympics silver medallist Mirabai Chanu and leading swimmer Sajan Prakash have secured the two representatives' voting positions in the general assembly. Both will have voting rights in the Dec 5 elections and could potentially contest the polls themselves.
A keen contest is expected for the eight Sportspersons of Outstanding Merit (SOM) positions. Of the 27 nominations received, 23 have been declared valid by returning officer (RO) Sanjay Kumar Srivastava. Several withdrawals have taken place, including Sardar Singh, Sumeeth Reddy, Om Prakash Karhana and Sunith Singh. The list features prominent names, including IOA president PT Usha, Gagan Narang, Yogeshwar Dutt, Adille Sumariwalla and Saina Nehwal.
Athletics has the strongest representation, with four candidates — Sumariwalla, Ashwini Nachappa, Anju and Usha — in the SOM elections. A possible Usha-Sumariwalla contest for the IOA president's post is also being discussed.
Former England captain Michael Vaughan mocked Australia on X after Usman Khawaja claimed widespread team knowledge of the 2018 Cape Town ball-tampering scandal, saying the revelation confirmed long-held suspicions and urging everyone to move on.
India's 15-year-old badminton player Tanvi Patri won silver at the Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, becoming the first Indian woman to win an individual badminton silver at the Youth Olympics. She lost to China's Zhang Yi Xin 21-15, 13-21, 24-26 after saving six match points. Abhinav Bindra and PV Sindhu praised her fighting spirit and talent.
India restricted New Zealand to 7/1 after five overs in the second ODI at Wellington. Shubman Gill won the toss and elected to bowl. Arshdeep Singh bowled a maiden over, and Auqib Nabi took his maiden ODI wicket when Tim Seifert was caught by Anshul Kamboj.
India bowling coach Morne Morkel paid tribute to Mohammed Shami after the pacer retired from Test cricket with 229 wickets in 64 matches, recalling how Shami helped him settle into the Indian dressing room and praising his skill and character.
New Zealand are 29/3 after Henry Nicholls was chopped on by Anshul Kamboj, with both openers back in the dugout. Daryl Mitchell hit a six off Auqib Nabi in the same over sequence.
Devon Conway is ruled out of the remainder of New Zealand's five-match ODI series against India after sustaining concussion in training, with Nick Kelly called up as cover. Matt Henry has been cleared and is likely to return for the second ODI in Wellington on Saturday, where India lead 1-0 following a rain-affected five-wicket win in Auckland.