New Delhi, Oct 26:
Indian tennis stars Mahesh Bhupathi and Sania Mirza have filed nominations for the All India Tennis Association’s (AITA) Sportsperson of Outstanding Merit (SOM) elections, seeking representation in the association’s General Body and Executive Committee.
However, Leander Paes, whose candidature for the AITA presidency had been backed by the Bengal Tennis Association, is conspicuous by his absence from the list of nominees.
The SOM elections are scheduled for November 7. Paes’s failure to file a nomination means he cannot secure eligibility for the presidency through this route. Although he can participate in the November 27 AITA elections as a representative of Bengal, the amended rules do not permit him to contest for the top post through that route because he has not fulfilled the prescribed eligibility requirements.
Eight former players have filed nominations for the SOM elections. Apart from Bhupathi and Sania, the candidates 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 nominations list features Bhupathi, Sania, Ankita, Janaki and Uppal.
Bhupathi, a former world No. 1 in doubles and multiple Grand Slam champion, stressed the need for former elite players to contribute to sports administration. He cited former badminton player and coach P Gopichand’s contribution to the sport as an example of how experienced players could help bring change to a federation. Sania, also a former world No. 1 in doubles, won six Grand Slam titles across women’s and mixed doubles.
Under the amended AITA Constitution, four SOM representatives — two men and two women — will be elected to the General Body. Two representatives, one man and one woman, will also be elected to the 15-member Executive Committee. The framework is part of wider efforts under the new sports governance rules to give accomplished sportspersons a greater role in the administration of national sports federations.