Saina Nehwal to contest the International Olympic Committee's Athletics Commission Elections

Saina Nehwal would be contesting the International Olympic Committee's Athletics Commission Elections.

India’s ace shuttler, Saina Nehwal, would be one of the 24 sportspersons from across the globe, who would be contesting for the four seats of the International Olympic Committee's Athletics Commission.

The elections would be held during the Rio Olympic Games commencing from August 31, next year.

"The IOC Executive Board today approved the candidatures of 24 athletes for the IOC Athletes' Commission elections, which will be held during the Olympic Games Rio de Janeiro 2016 next August," the International Olympic Committee said in a statement.

"Candidates come from all continents and are representing 14 different sports with an equal number of men and women. This great outcome owes much to the Olympic Agenda 2020 reforms which have put a greater focus on athletes and the central role they have to play within the IOC and the Olympic Movement," it said.

When Claudia Bokel, Dae Sung Moon, Alexander Popov and Yumilka Ruiz Luaces finish their terms early next year in the Commission, four spots would be up for grabs. The four elected athletes, after the approval of the IOC Session, would be the members of the IOC for a term of eight years.

The 24 candidates standing for elections include champion sportspersons like pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva of Russia, Estonia's 2008 Beijing Olympics discus throw gold-medallist Gerd Kanter and former hammer throw world champion Koji Murofushi of Japan.

Saina is currently competing in the Badminton World Federation (BWF) Super Series finals at Dubai.