Why former world number one Rohan Bopanna lost AITA recognition
India’s former world number one doubles player Rohan Bopanna has been left out of the AITA’s list of Sportspersons of Exceptional Merit (SOM) as he failed to meet the mandatory one-year retirement criterion prescribed under the National Sports Governance (National Sports Ories) Rules 2026.
The 46-year-old announced his retirement from professional tennis November 1, 2025, just a few days behind the one-year deadline when AITA published its SOM list on October 16, 2026.
The rules require the athlete to have retired from active sport at least one year prior to the date of application for inclusion on the SOM roster.
Bopanna, a two-time Grand Slam champion, has announced the end of his Indian career following his retirement from the 2024 Paris Olympics.
He had earlier declared that the 2023 Davis Cup tie against Morocco in Lucknow was his last in the country.
He continued to play on the professional circuit before announcing his retirement last year.
Bopanna is not to blame
Bopanna cannot be blamed for putting his name forward as he had asked administrator Gita Mittal about his eligibility and sent his application only after being assured by the tennis federation that he met the criteria.
The possible confusion here could be that the AITA felt since he had already finished his career in India in 2024, he met the criteria. However, as he continued to compete on the Pro ATP tour, he was still active until October 2025.
Bopann’s exclusion is notable given his stature in Indian tennis and his contribution to the sport outside his playing career.
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Bopanna won the mixed doubles crown at the 2017 French Open and the men’s doubles title at the 2024 Australian Open. He also became the oldest player to reach the world number one position in men’s doubles when he achieved the feat at the age of 43.
Bopanna has gained considerable popularity among Indian players for its doubles programme, which helps active players manage the costs of international competition by providing financial assistance and support to traveling coaches and physios.
This initiative has been particularly valuable for players who have difficulty financing their participation on the professional circuit.
Paes leads the list, Bhupathi and Sania at level 2
A total of 42 players and 28 players applied for inclusion on the roster, which must have 40 athletes – 20 men and 20 women.
40 players form the electoral college for the election of athlete representatives to the AITA General Body and Executive Committee.
Leander Paes, 1996 Olympic bronze medalist and winner of 18 Grand Slam titles in men’s and mixed doubles, is the only Tier 1 athlete.
Former World No. 1 Mahesh Bhupathi, a 12-time Grand Slam champion in men’s and mixed doubles, and Sania Mirza, a six-time Grand Slam champion and former World No. 1 in women’s doubles, feature at Tier 2.
Tier 3 includes Anand Amritraj, India’s former Davis Cup stalwart who helped the country reach the finals of the competition in 1974 and 1987, and Zeeshan Ali, a former Davis Cup player who later served Indian tennis as a coach.
Veteran and former Davis Cup captain Jaidip Mukerjea and former national champion Gaurav Natekar are at level 4. Rushmi Chakravarthi, former Indian international, figures at level 5 while Ankita Bhambri is listed at level 6.
Current Davis Cup coach Ashutosh Singh, Vivek Shokeen and Sai Jayalakshmy are placed at level 7.
Tier 8 includes the remaining players and contributors, including Sandeep Sanjay Kirtane, Nandan Bal, Enrico Piperno, Shrinath Prahlad, Nitten Kirrtane, India’s Billie Jean King Cup coach Vishal Uppal, Mustafa Ghouse, Mark Dominic Ferreira, Vasudeva Reddy Mummadi, Saurav Kumar S. Panja and J Maharishi among the men.
Women in the 8th layer include Sohini Kumari, Janaki Krishnamoorthy, Arthi Venkataraman, Arati Ponnappa Natekar, Shalini Chawla Thakur, Archana Venkata Raman, Radhika Kanitkar, Shruti Sharma, Vishika Chhetri Sharma, Meghha Vakaria, Parul Bham Goswavika Bursa, Sanaa Sweta Solanki and Prerna Bhambri.
AITA’s election notice states that four SOM representatives will be elected to the General Body, consisting of two men and two women, and two representatives to the Executive Committee, one man and one woman.
The announcement further specifies that a person applying for the position of SOM GB representative may also apply for the position of SOM ES representative.
However, only elected representatives of SOM GB are eligible to vote and contest elections for SOM representatives to the EC.
A candidate elected as SOM EC representative cannot stand for any other position on the AITA Executive Committee.
Nominations are scheduled from October 23 to 25, before voting in New Delhi on November 5.
Players will need to be physically present to submit nominations and vote.
It means players like Anand Amritraj and Sania, who live abroad, will have to travel all the way to the national capital to take part in the voting.
Proxy voting is not allowed.
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