Mahesh Bhupathi and Sania Mirza Enter AITA Election Race as Leander Paes Opts Out

Indian tennis legends Mahesh Bhupathi and Sania Mirza have officially entered the race for the All India Tennis Association (AITA) Sportsperson of Outstanding Merit (SOM) elections. The duo submitted their nominations seeking representation in the organization's General Body and Executive Committee, marking a significant development in the upcoming administrative polls scheduled for November 7.

In a surprising turn of events, Leander Paes, the most decorated player in the country and the only individual featured in Tier I of the 40-player SOM roster, did not file a nomination. His absence from the list effectively disqualifies him from contesting the AITA presidency. Although the Bengal Tennis Association, led by Paes, had previously expressed support for his candidacy, the amended AITA constitution requires candidates for top executive roles to hold specific credentials that Paes cannot satisfy without first securing a position through the SOM election process.

Reflecting on his decision to run, Mahesh Bhupathi emphasized the importance of high-level athlete involvement in sports governance. Citing the impact of P. Gopichand on badminton, Bhupathi noted that federations benefit significantly from the expertise of those who have competed at the highest levels. Bhupathi and Sania Mirza, both former world number one doubles players and multiple-time Grand Slam champions, are among eight total candidates vying for the SOM spots.

The current AITA framework provides for four SOM representatives on the General Body—comprising two men and two women—and two SOM representatives on the 15-member Executive Committee, split equally by gender. This structure is part of a broader initiative to integrate former athletes into the governance of national sports federations, aligning with updated sports governance regulations.