Warring Factions In All India Tennis Association Spar Over Team Manager For Davis Cup

News18

15 hours ago

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A fresh controversy erupted when Anil Dhupar was removed as Secretary General June and Sunder Iyer was appointed interim secretary.
As the results of last year's AITA elections remain unannounced, rival factions within the national tennis federation have selected different team managers for the upcoming Davis Cup tie against Switzerland, causing an ego clash among members.
AITA held its elections on September 28, 2024, but the results were submitted to the Delhi High Court in a sealed envelope due to a petition filed by former players Somdev Devvarman and Purav Raja. The players claimed that the Sports Code (2011) was not adhered to.
Since then, the old Executive Committee has been overseeing the federation's activities. However, a new controversy arose when Anil Dhupar was removed as Secretary General by the EC on June 27 this year, and Sunder Iyer was appointed interim secretary. Dhupar has contested his removal in court, which is scheduled to hear the case on September 10. The ministry has declined to intervene in AITA's internal matters.
With the National Sports Governance Act 2025 now in effect, the issue should reach a resolution soon. Iyer informed the EC members on August 9 that Tripura association secretary Sujit Roy would accompany the Indian Davis Cup team to Switzerland as manager for the tie to be held in Biel on September 12 and 13. Following the announcement, EC members exchanged emails debating the appointment.
Dhupar, who has challenged the legality of the June 27 EC meeting that removed him as secretary in Ahmedabad, asserted that it has been a longstanding tradition for the secretary general to travel with the team as manager, and AITA President Anil Jain has approved and sanctioned his name.
Bengal Tennis Association President Hironmoy Chatterjee stated that the Executive Committee has the authority to nominate the manager and that Dhupar had previously travelled as manager only after EC approval. Chatterjee advised members to disregard Dhupar's email, a view endorsed by All Assam Tennis Association President Raktim Saikia.
AITA Vice President Navneet Sehgal advised members to respect tradition and avoid the 'my man his man" concept. Another AITA Vice President Chintan Parikh argued that Dhupar should not be appointed as manager by the President without consulting the EC, since he has not received any favourable court decision. He further emphasized that appointing a secretary general as the Davis Cup team manager was 'demoting" the position.
Parikh criticised the President and Secretary for undermining the EC and operating AITA with autocracy. He argued that all travel expenses need EC approval and that AITA would not cover Dhupar's expenses if he travelled as manager without explicit EC consent.
Jain Reminds All About President's Powers
AITA President Anil Jain reminded members of the President's powers, arguing that Parikh's email disregarded the President's authority as outlined in the AITA constitution. Jain referred to clause 8(a) to assert that the President's decisions on day-to-day affairs managed by other office bearers would be final. Jain contended that Iyer could not be considered Secretary General without being elected by the Central Council, making his appointment unconstitutional since it was decided in an EC meeting that the President did not preside over.
'Jain Was Never Eligible For President's Post'
Chatterjee, holding the post of VP Sports, questioned Jain's eligibility as President, alleging that Jain had violated the AITA Constitution by not being part of the UP tennis association executive committee. He claimed Jain's nomination as President was improper, as the constitution requires candidates to be part of the state association EC.
Asked why this issue was being raised now after Jain's first four-year term, Chatterjee explained that they were initially unaware, assuming Jain was part of the UPTA EC, but later discovered he was an outsider, which is unacceptable.
It has also emerged that AITA nominated Anand Dubey as a support staff member to travel with the team, but his name was removed after submitting the list to the Sports Ministry.
About the Author
Feroz Khan
Feroz Khan has been covering sports for over 12 years now and is currently working with Network18 as Principal Correspondent. He embarked on his journey in 2011 and has since acquired vast experience in digital...Read More
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