Leander Paes Positions Himself for AITA Presidency with ‘Tier 1’ Status Bid
PUNE: In a significant move that could reshape the governance of Indian tennis, Olympic medallist and multiple-time Grand Slam champion Leander Paes has officially initiated the process to secure his designation as a "Sportsperson of Outstanding Merit" (SoM). This strategic step is widely seen as a precursor to a formal campaign for the presidency of the All India Tennis Association (AITA).
The move aligns with the stringent requirements set forth by the National Sports Governance Act (2025) and the accompanying NSG Rules (2026). Under these new regulations, elite athletes are classified into ten distinct tiers based on their professional achievements. Olympic medallists are automatically placed in the premier "Tier 1" bracket, a distinction that Paes, the 1996 Atlanta Games singles bronze medallist, is uniquely positioned to claim.
A Clear Path to Leadership
Hironmoy Chatterjee, vice-president of the AITA interim executive committee and chief advisor to the Bengal Tennis Association (BTA), confirmed that the administrative wheels are already in motion. "Leander has expressed his interest, and we are currently in the process of submitting his application. As it stands, he is the only tennis player in India eligible for Tier 1 status," Chatterjee stated.
Paes, who currently serves as the president of the BTA, has maintained silence regarding his immediate political ambitions and did not respond to requests for comment.
Election Timeline and Procedural Hurdles
The road to the AITA presidency involves a tightly regulated electoral process. The association has opened a 60-day window for applications, which commenced on August 15 and is slated to conclude on October 15. While this timeline suggests that the upcoming elections will likely take place in November, the process is already running behind the September 30 deadline previously mandated by the Delhi High Court.
To ensure the integrity of the ballot, Chintan Parikh, the current interim president of the AITA, has emphasized the need for a transparent transition. "The players need to file their nominations and get elected without any interference from the AITA," Parikh noted, underscoring the body’s commitment to adhering to the governance reforms.
As the October deadline approaches, the Indian tennis fraternity is closely watching the 53-year-old legend. Paes’s entry into the presidential race would mark a major transition from his illustrious career as a player to a pivotal role in the administration of the sport he helped elevate to global prominence.
