Kolkata, September 7, 2026: The Bengal Tennis Association (BTA) has formally called on its own president, Leander Paes, to contest the presidency of the All India Tennis Association (AITA), according to a press release issued by the state body and signed by Hony. Secretary Ketan Sheth.
The announcement lands three weeks before the Delhi High Court’s September 30 deadline for AITA to complete its constitutional overhaul and hold fresh Executive Committee elections — a process set in motion after the results of the federation’s disputed September 2024 election were sealed pending litigation.
What the BTA Announced
Per the release, the BTA’s Council of members wants Paes — an Olympic medallist and 18-time Grand Slam champion — to move from state administration to the national stage. It points to his application for AITA’s newly created Sportspersons of Outstanding Merit (SOM) roster as the first procedural step in that direction. Under AITA’s revised constitution, adopted at an Extraordinary General Meeting in July, the SOM roster comprises 40 former players (20 men and 20 women), from which four sit on the General Body and two on the restructured 15-member Executive Committee.
The BTA has not detailed how SOM inclusion connects to an eventual presidential run, and neither AITA nor Paes has issued a response as of publication.
Paes’ Bengal Connection
Paes took over as BTA president in November 2025, succeeding long-time AITA secretary general Hironmoy Chatterjee. He has previously described the role as his “first serve” in governance, framing his approach to administration as that of both a student and a leader. The BTA’s release leans heavily on this framing, casting his AITA candidature as a natural extension of that Kolkata-rooted journey — from his junior days in the city’s tennis system to what would be a bid for the sport’s top domestic office.
BTA’s Stated Priorities for AITA
The release outlines eight areas the BTA wants the next AITA leadership to prioritise:
- Player-centred tennis governance
- A stronger national player-development pathway
- Upgraded coaching and sports-science infrastructure
- More international playing opportunities for Indian players
- Greater autonomy and support for state associations
- Wider participation and grassroots access
- Increased corporate, government and international investment
- Improved transparency and accountability in administration
Several of these — particularly transparency and accountability — echo language already circulating in AITA’s election cycle from other quarters, including the 10-point reform plan pushed by former players Somdev Devvarman and Purav Raja under “The Players AITA” banner.
Where This Fits in the AITA Election
The BTA’s push for Paes is the latest development in a contest that has drawn scrutiny well before any candidate list is finalised. AITA’s interim Executive Committee, led by President Chintan Parikh and Secretary General Sunder Iyer, has been operating under a court-appointed framework since the 2024 results were shelved. The new constitution — which introduces a 70-year age cap for Executive Committee members, mandates 25 percent women’s representation, and folds in the SOM category — was cleared by the General Body with over 95 percent approval in July.
Rohit Rajpal’s candidacy has separately drawn attention over his multiple concurrent roles within Indian tennis administration, a matter under continued scrutiny as the election approaches.
Paes brings a further dimension not addressed in the BTA’s release: he joined the Bharatiya Janata Party in March 2026, having previously been associated with the Trinamool Congress. Neither AITA’s constitution nor the BTA statement addresses office-bearers’ political affiliations, but the fact sits alongside broader questions about governance independence that have shadowed this election cycle.
What Happens Next
With the September 30 deadline approaching, AITA has yet to open formal nominations for the Executive Committee election. Whether Paes converts the BTA’s endorsement into a formal candidacy — and how his SOM application factors into eligibility — remains to be seen. Indian Tennis Daily will continue tracking developments as the field for AITA’s next leadership takes shape.