Tennis Icons Bhupathi and Mirza Join Forces to Revive the Sport

Mahesh Bhupathi and Sania Mirza have been elected to the Executive Committee of the All India Tennis Association.

The two Indian tennis legends secured their seats in the 15-member body after a vote on November 5, 2026.

Bhupathi received 23 votes, the highest among all candidates.

Sania Mirza earned 18 votes.

Their election follows a wider governance reform in Indian sports.

The AITA Constitution was amended in July 2026 to align with the National Sports Governance Act.

That amendment created reserved seats for former athletes.

Two Sportspersons of Outstanding Merit — or SOM — positions were established in the Executive Committee.

One is reserved for a male representative, one for a female representative.

Bhupathi and Mirza now fill those two spots.

Before reaching the Executive Committee, both were first elected to the AITA General Body.

In that election, Bhupathi secured 19 votes and Mirza secured 18 votes.

They were joined by Ashutosh Singh and Shalini Thakur Chawla as the other two SOM representatives in the General Body.

Singh is the current Davis Cup coach.

Chawla is a former Billie Jean King Cup captain.

The SOM system is designed to give accomplished sportspersons a direct voice in how national federations operate.

Bhupathi and Mirza now have that voice at the highest administrative table.

Speaking after her election, Sania Mirza said the goal is straightforward.

"Our vision and our goal are one, which is to try and make Indian tennis better," she told ANI.

She emphasized that it is still early to detail specific plans.

"I think that it's too early to answer the question exactly what, because there are still a lot of things to be put into place with the president, vice president, EC," she said.

"There are many things still to be done."

Mirza stressed the need for a comprehensive support system for upcoming players.

She mentioned quality coaching, tournament exposure, guidance, fitness support, and access to physiotherapy.

"There are many things that go into making of a tennis player," she noted.

Bhupathi and Mirza bring decades of international experience to the role.

Bhupathi has 12 Grand Slam titles across doubles and mixed doubles.

Mirza, a former world No. 1 in doubles, has six Grand Slam titles.

Both have competed at the highest level and understand what it takes to produce world-class players.

Their inclusion marks a shift in how Indian tennis is administered.

For years, former players had limited formal influence within the AITA.

The constitutional amendment changed that.

Under the new rules, the Executive Committee includes 15 members.

The SOM representatives are two of them.

Bhupathi and Mirza cannot contest elections for other office-bearer posts such as president, general secretary, or treasurer.

Their role is specifically to represent the perspective of elite athletes.

But the election comes at a time of legal uncertainty for the AITA.

The Delhi High Court is scheduled to hear a case on November 6, 2026.

Justice (retd.) Gita Mittal has filed a request to implead the AITA Trust and the Delhi Lawn Tennis Association for alleged corruption.

There is also a contempt petition against AITA's interim office-bearers.

The petition accuses them of "active obstruction and suppression of information" from the administrator.