Sania Mirza, Mahesh Bhupathi enter Indian tennis body polls as Leander Paes stays out

Indian tennis greats Mahesh Bhupathi and Sania Mirza have entered the race to represent the All India Tennis Association (AITA) and filed nominations for the Sports Personality of Outstanding Merit (SOM) election ahead of the November 7 polls. However, Leander Paes, whose Tennis Association of Bengal has endorsed his bid for the AITA president, was absent from the list of candidates, essentially ending his hopes of contesting the top post under the current eligibility rules.

Paes’ absence is particularly notable as he is the only Tier I ranked player from the 40-man roster. In order to run for president, he needed to secure a seat through the SOM process because he had not completed the required term as an office bearer in the state association.

According to the National Sports Governance Act and Rules, a candidate must have served at least one term in a state association to compete for a position on the national body. Although Paes can still represent Bengal in the November 27 AITA elections, he cannot run for the presidency through that route.

Bhupathi, meanwhile, emphasized the importance of bringing elite players into the administration of the sport and pointed to the impact former players can have on their respective federations.

“I think every federation needs players who have played at the highest level to help transform the sport. An example is what Gopi (P Gopichand) did for badminton which was transformational,” Bhupathi told PTI.

EIGHT FORMER PLAYERS IN STOCK

Besides Bhupathi and Sania, six other former players have filed nominations for the SOM elections. They include Ankita Bhambri, current Davis Cup coach Ashutosh Singh, Gaurav Natekar, Janaki Krishnamoorthy, Shalini Thakur Chawla and current Billie Jean King Cup captain Vishal Uppal.

The executive committee’s nomination list includes five candidates: Bhupathi, Sania, Ankita, Janaki and Uppal.

The amended AITA constitution provides for four SOM representatives on the general body, equally divided between men and women. Two SOM representatives, one male and one female, will also be elected to the 15-member executive committee.

PLAYERS LOOK FOR BIGGER RIVERS IN AITA

The SOM framework is part of a wider effort under new sports governance rules to give elite athletes a greater role in the governance of national sports federations.

A former world number one doubles player and multiple Grand Slam champion, Bhupathi has been among India’s leading players on the international circuit. Sania, also a former world number one in doubles, has won six Grand Slam titles in women’s and mixed doubles and has become one of the most recognizable figures in Indian tennis.

Their nominations offer two prominent names in Indian tennis a chance to join the administration of the sport, even as Paes’ absence leaves a big question mark over the presidential race ahead of the November 27 polls.

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