Mahesh Bhupathi, Sania Mirza Enter AITA Elections Race; Leander Paes Misses Nomination Deadline

Bhupathi and Mirza seek representation in Indian tennis administration as the November 7 Sports Person of Outstanding Merit elections take shape, while Paes’s absence from the nominations list leaves his presidential ambitions in doubt.

Indian tennis legends Mahesh Bhupathi and Sania Mirza have filed their nominations for the Sports Person of Outstanding Merit (SOM) elections of the All India Tennis Association (AITA), seeking places in the federation’s General Body and Executive Committee. However, Leander Paes, who had been publicly backed by the Bengal Tennis Association for the AITA presidency, has surprisingly not submitted his nomination for the November 7 polls.

Paes’s absence from the nominations list is significant because the former world No. 1 in doubles needed to secure election as an SOM representative to become eligible to contest for the AITA presidency. He is currently ineligible to stand as a state representative under the applicable governance rules.

The development has added an important dimension to the upcoming elections, with some of India’s most accomplished tennis players seeking a direct role in the administration of the sport.

The Bengal Tennis Association (BTA), headed by Paes, had publicly supported his candidature for the post of AITA president. However, his failure to file a nomination for the SOM elections means he cannot pursue that route to eligibility for the November 27 AITA polls.

Paes can still participate in the later election as Bengal’s representative, but the National Sports Governance (NSG) Act and Rules prevent him from contesting for a national-level office through that route under the circumstances described.

The rules require a candidate seeking a position in a national sports federation to have completed at least one term as an office-bearer in a state association. Paes does not currently meet that eligibility requirement, making the SOM route crucial to his presidential ambitions.

His omission from the nominations list therefore represents a significant development in the run-up to the AITA elections. The available information does not establish why Paes did not submit his nomination.

Eight former players enter the race

Alongside Bhupathi and Mirza, six other former players have filed nominations for the SOM elections. The candidates are 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 five candidates: Bhupathi, Mirza, Ankita Bhambri, Janaki Krishnamoorthy and Uppal.

The amended AITA Constitution provides for four SOM representatives on the General Body, comprising two men and two women. It also reserves two places on the 15-member Executive Committee for SOM representatives, with one position each for a man and a woman.

The nominations will determine which former players secure these designated positions and gain a formal role in the federation’s decision-making structure.

The SOM framework is part of the wider effort to give accomplished sportspersons a voice in the governance of national sports federations. In tennis, the involvement of former international players could bring direct experience of elite competition into discussions on the sport’s development and administration.

Bhupathi has emphasised the importance of involving athletes who have competed at the highest level in the governance of their respective sports. “I think every federation needs players who have played at the highest level to help transform the sport, a case and point what Gopi (P Gopichand) has done for badminton has been transformational,” Bhupathi told PTI.

His remarks point to the potential contribution of former athletes beyond their competitive careers. Players who have experienced international tennis can bring insight into the demands of professional competition, athlete development and the support systems needed to succeed.

Bhupathi himself enjoyed an exceptional career in doubles, reaching world No. 1 and winning multiple Grand Slam titles. His nomination gives him an opportunity to seek a formal position in the governance of Indian tennis.

Mirza, another of the country’s most successful players, has also entered the race. A former world No. 1 in doubles, she won six Grand Slam titles across women’s and mixed doubles and became one of the most prominent figures in Indian tennis.

Their candidatures bring substantial international playing experience into the SOM election process.

The upcoming elections come at a time when the structure of sports administration in India is receiving renewed attention under the new governance framework. The provision of designated positions for sportspersons is intended to ensure that former athletes can participate directly in the decision-making processes of national federations.

For AITA, the SOM elections will determine who occupies these positions on the General Body and Executive Committee. The outcome will also shape the extent to which experienced players contribute to the federation’s administration.

Bhupathi and Mirza are among the most recognisable names in Indian tennis, while the other nominees bring experience from different parts of the domestic and international game.

Paes’s absence, meanwhile, has introduced uncertainty into the presidential race. With the November 7 SOM elections approaching and the AITA polls scheduled for November 27, eligibility and representation remain central issues.

The immediate focus will be on the SOM election results and the candidates who secure positions within the federation. For Indian tennis, the process represents an opportunity to strengthen athlete representation in governance, while the absence of a nomination from Paes has become one of the defining developments ahead of the elections.