Ramachandran new IOA boss, India set to return to Oly fold

Kho-Kho Federation of India president Rajeev Mehta and All India Tennis Association (AITA) chief Anil Khanna were also elected unopposed as secretary general and treasurer, respectively.

Voting was done only for eight vice-presidents as there were nine candidates in fray. One senior vice-president, six joint secretaries and nine executive council members were also elected unopposed. All the office-bearers of IOA will have a term till 2016, the Olympic year.

The three observers from IOC said they would submit a ‘favourable’ report to president Thomas Bach and expressed hope that India’s suspension would be revoked ‘sooner than later’. Robin Mitchell, IOC member from Fiji, even hinted India’s suspension could be revoked before the end of the ongoing Sochi Winter Olympics so that the three Indians taking part in the Games can hold the tri-colour in the closing ceremony on 23 February.

Asked about any time frame, Mitchell said, ‘IOC executive board is meeting before the closing ceremony of Sochi Olympics and hopefully it will decide to revoke India’s suspension in that meeting. We want Indian athletes to take part in the closing ceremony with the national flag,’ he said. The IOA polls also marked the exit of corruption-tainted Abhay Singh Chautala and Lalit Bhanot from the national body.