Tennis star Sania Mirza is participating in the election this time

The country's former star player Sania Mirza is participating in the election to join the Indian tennis administration. He submitted his nomination for the 'Sports Person of Outstanding Merit' (SOM) category ahead of the upcoming All India Tennis Association (AITA) elections. Former Indian tennis star Mahesh Bhupathi has also nominated in the same category.

According to the report of the Indian media India Today, eight former players including Sania and Bhupathi have submitted their nominations ahead of the SOM elections on November 7. The other candidates are Ankita Bhambri, India's current Davis Cup coach Ashutosh Singh, Gaurav Natekar, Janki Krishnamurthy, Shalini Thakur Chawla and current Billie Jean King Cup captain Vishal Uppal.

Sania has also nominated for the AITA executive committee election. Mahesh Bhupathi, Ankita Bhambri, Janaki Krishnamurthy and Vishal Uppal are candidates along with him in this election.

Another Indian tennis legend, Leander Page, was in talks to contest for the post of AITA president. The West Bengal Tennis Association supported his candidature. However, Page's name is not on the SOM nomination list. As a result, according to the current eligibility rules, the chance of contesting for the post of president is practically closed for him.

According to the report, according to the National Sports Governing Act and Rules, there is a condition of serving at least one term in any post of the state sports body to participate in the election for the post of the national sports body. Page did not meet that condition. However, he can participate in the AITA elections on November 27 as a representative of West Bengal.

Mahesh Bhupati has given his opinion in favor of including former players who played at the international level in the sports administration. He told news agency PTI that every sports organization needs to have players playing at the highest level so that they can contribute to the development of the respective sport. He mentioned the contribution of India's badminton coach Pullela Gopichand as an example.

Former world number one Bhupathi has won multiple Grand Slam titles in doubles. On the other hand, Sania is also the former world number one in doubles. Her total number of Grand Slam titles in women's and mixed doubles is six.

According to the revised constitution of AITA, four representatives will be elected to the General Assembly from the SOM class. Among them there will be two men and two women. Apart from this, one male and one female representative will be elected from this category in the 15-member executive committee.

SOM elections are scheduled to be held on November 7 and AITA elections on November 27. The nominations of Sania and Bhupathi have created an opportunity for familiar faces in Indian tennis to come into administration.