Usha, a four-time Asian Games champion, welcomed the new members of the Executive Committee to New Delhi for the meeting which focused on India's preparations for the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Earlier this month, the 58-year-old was elected unopposed as President to succeed Narinder Batra who resigned in July, after claiming his departure was down to personal reasons.

"I am happy that today we have sportspersons in our Executive Council," Usha said, as reported by The North Lines.

"I have never thought I would one day become an MP or IOA President, but the sportspersons and federations pushed me to stand for these elections."

She was joined on the Executive Council by Ajay Patel of the National Rifle Association of India, who was unanimously elected as senior vice-president of the IOA, and new vice-presidents Gagan Narang, who won shooting bronze at London 2012, and Rowing Federation of India President Rajlaxmi Singh Deo.

"It augurs well for the Olympic Movement in India that sportspersons are coming into sports administration, this is very important," former IOA secretary general Randhir Singh said about the new appointments, as reported by The North Lines.

Indian Weightlifting Federation President Sahdev Yadav was elected treasurer with All India Football Federation head Kalyan Chaubey to serve as joint secretary.

Also on the Council is Olympic medal-winning wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt and archer Dola Banerjee as respective male and female representatives of the Sportspersons of Outstanding Merit.

London 2012 bronze medallist Mary Kom and table tennis player Achanta Sharath Kamal are also on the panel as the President and vice-president of the Athletes' Commission respectively.

Making up the rest of the Executive Council is India's Chef de Mission for the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games Bhupender Singh Bajwa, former tennis player Rohit Rajpal, Amitabh Sharma of the Ice Skating Association of India, and Harpal Singh of the Indian Golf Union.

It is hoped that Usha's election will see an end to the long-standing governance issues that have plagued the organisation.

The National Olympic Committee was issued a "final warning" over persistent governance issues during an Executive Council meeting in September.

Prior to Paris 2024, where India will look to add to its 10 Olympic and nine Paralympic gold medals, the country is due to host the International Olympic Committee Session in Mumbai which is set to take place in September or October next year.