Indian tennis icons Sania Mirza and Mahesh Bhupathi have filed nominations for the All India Tennis Association elections under the eminent athletes quota, while Leander Paes has been ruled out of the presidential race after missing the nomination deadline.
NEW DELHI — Indian tennis icons Mahesh Bhupathi and Sania Mirza have officially entered the administration race for the All India Tennis Association (AITA), submitting their nominations under the Sports Person of Outstanding Merit (SOM) category ahead of the November 7 elections.
In a notable turn of events, fellow legend Leander Paes did not file a nomination for the SOM quota, a decision that effectively derails his pathway to contest for the AITA presidency under prevailing sports governance rules.
Paes’ Ineligibility for the Top Post
Paes, who was placed in Tier I of the 40-member roster and had the Bengal Tennis Association’s backing for the presidency, faced specific administrative prerequisites. Under the National Sports Governance Act and Rules, candidates seeking executive positions in a national federation must have served at least one full term as an office-bearer in a state body.
Because Paes has not held a prior state-level term, securing an entry via the SOM quota was his only viable route to qualify for the presidential election. While Paes remains eligible to attend the November 27 general body elections as Bengal’s delegate, he cannot vie for the presidency without the SOM qualification.
Elite Athletes Seek Administrative Clout
Highlighting the need for elite athletic insight in national federations, Bhupathi drew parallels with other sports disciplines where former players spearheaded administrative turnarounds.
“I think every federation needs players who have played at the highest level to help transform the sport,” Bhupathi told PTI. “A case in point is what Gopi (P. Gopichand) has done for badminton, which has been transformational.”
Both Bhupathi and Mirza—each a former doubles world No. 1 and multiple Grand Slam winner—bring substantial stature to the federation’s upcoming ballot.
Breakdown of the SOM Race and Executive Committee Spots
A total of eight former national and international players have entered the fray for the SOM elections:
- The Candidates: Mahesh Bhupathi, Sania Mirza, Ankita Bhambri, current Davis Cup coach Ashutosh Singh, Gaurav Natekar, Janaki Krishnamoorthy, Shalini Thakur Chawla, and Billie Jean King Cup captain Vishal Uppal.
- Executive Committee Contest: Five nominees—Bhupathi, Mirza, Bhambri, Krishnamoorthy, and Uppal—are contending for spots on the 15-member Executive Committee.
- Structural Allocation: Under the amended AITA Constitution, four SOM representatives (two men and two women) will join the General Body, while two representatives (one man and one woman) will be voted onto the Executive Committee.
The SOM initiative stems from broader governance directives designed to integrate accomplished international athletes directly into the administrative and strategic operations of national sports bodies.
