Former World No. 1 doubles stars Sania Mirza and Mahesh Bhupathi have filed their nominations for the Sportsperson of Outstanding Merit (SOM) positions at the All India Tennis Association (AITA). Under the Centre’s 2026 rules requiring national sports federations to include at least 4 SOM representatives in their General Bodies, the 2 Indian Grand Slam icons are stepping forward with a 10-to-15-year blueprint to reform the domestic tennis ecosystem from the inside.
Ending 30 Years of Friction to Build a 10-to-15-Year System
Speaking via RevSportz on his decision to file a nomination for the AITA Sportsperson of Outstanding Merit seat, 12-time Grand Slam champion Mahesh Bhupathi pointed to the Centre’s 2026 National Sports Governance framework as a turning point after 30 years of friction between active players and the national federation. Bhupathi noted that the mandate for at least 4 SOM representatives inside the General Body creates a genuine opening for former players to drive long-term structural reform across the next 10 to 15 years, including bringing former Asian Games and Commonwealth Games gold medalist Somdev Devvarman into the administrative setup.
“I have personally been at loggerheads with the tennis federation ever since I can remember, 30 years ago, and I think for the 1st time, thanks to the Sports Code, there is an opportunity for players to get in. There is an opportunity for players who understand the game to make a real impact.”
“You have got to put your money where your mouth is. With the right team, over 10 to 15 years, we can start building a great system for tennis in India.”
Driving Change From Within & Rebuilding the Grassroots Pipeline
Former doubles World No. 1 and 6-time Grand Slam champion Sania Mirza echoed the call for athlete-led governance at AITA. Mirza emphasized that shaping domestic tennis policy requires stepping inside the system to overhaul grassroots development over a realistic 5-to-15-year window so India can consistently produce Grand Slam competitors and international medalists again.
“The best way to make a change is to be in it. A better system can produce more tennis players, with a better grassroots and development program. What is best for Indian tennis, that is what we are here for.”
What Mahesh Bhupathi & Sania Mirza Want to Bring to AITA
| Pillar | Mahesh Bhupathi’s Vision for AITA | Sania Mirza’s Vision for AITA |
|---|---|---|
| Pillar 1 | A seat for players: Players who understand the game get the chance to make a real impact inside the General Body. | Change from within: Step inside the federation system to shape policy and structure for the better. |
| Pillar 2 | The right team: Everyone from the president down working from a player-1st perspective. | Stronger grassroots: A better domestic system and development program to produce a deeper pool of players. |
| Pillar 3 | A system built to last: Build a sustainable structure for Indian tennis over the next 10 to 15 years. | A long-term plan: Commit to a 5-to-15-year development horizon—the time required to build and breed champions. |
| Pillar 4 | Champions in the ecosystem: Bring proven champions of Indian tennis, such as Somdev Devvarman, into the fold. | Players at the table: Put former and active players in key decision-making positions across the federation. |
| Pillar 5 | A facelift for the sport: Deliver fresh administrative change driven by experienced tennis minds. | The next generation: Build a clear pathway for young players to restore Grand Slam and medal representation. |
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Swipe Through Sania Mirza & Mahesh Bhupathi’s AITA Blueprint
