Ramachandran was the only candidate when the deadline closed today.

Also unopposed will be Rajeev Mehta and Anil Khanna for the posts of secretary general and treasurer respectively. 

Successful elections in New Delhi on February 9 are key to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) lifting a suspension imposed in December 2012 on the IOA after tainted officials Abhay Chautala and Lalit Bhanot were elected as President and secretary general respectively amid allegations of corruption linked to the Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games.

But the choice of Ramachandran, Mehta and Khanna is seen s a victory for Chautala as all three are close allies of his 

Negotiations had been going on for several weeks between Randhir Singh, secretary general of the recognised IOA and also an IOC member, and Chautala. 

Singh had reportedly wanted candidates involved in the 2012 elections barred but Chautala claimed that this was unfair and would have ruled out Ramachandran, elected treasurer in that disputed poll.

The election of Abhay Chautala as President of the India Olympic Association had led to its suspension by the International Olympic Committee ©The India Today Group/Getty Images

Ramachandran, a former businessman with India Cements Limited, one of the country's largest manufacturer of cement with interests in sugar, shipping, power, trading and finance, has been President of the WSF since 2008.

He had previously led the Squash Rackets Federation of India and been President of the Indian Triathlon Federation. 

His brother Narayanaswami Srinivasan is President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the most powerful and richest sports federation in India. 

Mehta is currently vice-president of Hockey India and Khanna is President of the All India Tennis Association. 

Also unopposed for the post of senior vice-president will be Virendra Nanavati, chief executive of the Swimming Federation of India.

Eight vice-presidents are also due to be elected, for which the IOA have received nine nominations, including Sunaina Kumari, Singh's daughter who is President of the Bowling Federation of India.

Those elected at the elections are due to hold their posts until December 2016. 

A refusal by officials to bring forward the election from February 9 means that Indian athletes competing at Sochi 2014 - which opens on February 7 - will not be able to compete under their nation's flag.

They will instead compete under the Olympic Flag.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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