Sania Mirza and Mahesh Bhupathi Enter AITA Elections as Leander Paes Excluded

Former world number-one doubles stars Sania Mirza and Mahesh Bhupathi have filed nominations for the All India Tennis Association Sports Person of Outstanding Merit elections scheduled for Nov. 7, entering sports administration as high-profile candidates.

All India Tennis Association Elections Nominations and Candidate Lists

Mirza and Bhupathi join six other former players who submitted nominations for the Sports Person of Outstanding Merit elections. The group includes Ankita Bhambri, Davis Cup coach Ashutosh Singh, Gaurav Natekar, Janki Krishnamurthi, Shalini Thakur Chawla, and Billie Jean King Cup captain Vishal Uppal. Executive committee nominations list five names: Bhupathi, Mirza, Bhambri, Krishnamurthi, and Uppal. Under the revised All India Tennis Association constitution, the general body will feature four Sports Person of Outstanding Merit representatives, with one man and one woman securing seats on the 15-member executive committee.

Leander Paes Excluded from Presidential Race Due to Eligibility Rules

Leander Paes missed the nomination list, leaving him out of the All India Tennis Association presidential race. Paes belongs to the Tier-1 player category. National sports governance acts and regulations require national body candidates to serve at least one term as an office bearer in a state association. Paes failed to meet this prerequisite, meaning he needed the Sports Person of Outstanding Merit process to secure a spot for the presidency. The absence of his name on the nomination list blocks that path. Paes can still represent the Bengal Tennis Association at the Nov. 27 All India Tennis Association elections, but he cannot run for president.

Mahesh Bhupathi Cites Badminton Precedent for Player Administration

Bhupathi emphasized the necessity of athletes who played at the highest levels within every sports federation. He pointed to P. Gopichand in badminton as an example of how athletes transitioning into administration can transform a sport. Bhupathi is a former world number-one doubles player and multiple-time Grand Slam winner. Mirza also reached world number-one in doubles, capturing six Grand Slam titles across women’s and mixed doubles while establishing herself as a central figure in Indian tennis history.