The All India Tennis Association (AITA) clarified in a statement issued by the secretary-general Bharat Oza on Wednesday that the Ethics Committee and the Executive Committee had given an opportunity to Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna to make an appeal about the decision not to consider them for selection for national duty till June 30, 2014.
It was argued that the committee had the highest respect for the tennis credentials of the two players, but the action was taken under the constitution to ensure discipline.
Clarification
The statement also sought to clarify that the institution was not a “one man show being run by Mr. Anil Khanna’’, as was being projected, in a section of the media.
“The decision in respect of the two players was taken by the Executive Committee of AITA, which was attended by 12 representatives from different States of India on recommendation of a 4-member Ethics Committee of AITA. This note is therefore sent on request of the Executive Committee members, who feel that unwarranted insinuations are made on the president of AITA and thereby implying that others are his stooges,” the statement said, further suggesting that Khanna was in the minority and the majority opinion prevailed with regard to the disciplinary action on the two players.
It was mentioned that the operational activities were managed by four Executive Directors, Col. Ranbir Chauhan, Col. Amarbir Singh, Wg. Cdr. P.F. Montes and coach Nar Singh. The four report to the secretary-general, a post held by Anil Khanna earlier for 12 years before Oza took over this year, and by Ramesh Desai for eight years from 1992.
It was also projected that the six committees were headed by persons with experience in education, government, journalism and administration. “AITA is one of the most democratic institutions and has been headed between 2000-2012 by Mr. Yashwant Sinha, MP, former Finance Minister and External Affairs Minister. The Vice Presidents of AITA include very distinguished personalities, who would not choose to be part of an organisation which is not transparent and democratic,” the statement said.
Player development
The four Directors also addressed the media and said that a lot was being done for player development and it was mentioned that attempts would be made to conduct more Challenger level tournaments so as to help players reach the top-100 of the world.
“It is not easy conducting the developmental tournaments, and we have been doing so many of them every year,” said Col. Chauhan, even as he sought to highlight that Indian tennis had the best results in the last Asian Games.
The committee says the action was taken under the constitution to ensure discipline
The four Directors say a lot is being done for player development
Keywords: AITA, Mahesh Bhupathi, Rohan Bopanna
When the selection of the Team is considered it should with some norms
and forms of the players. It should not be to the whims and fancies
of the players. You have to uphold to the credit of the Nation and no
personal interests how so ever you are great/ These lessons they should
take from greatest Gentleman Player Ramanathan Krishnan. Jayaraman
Natarajan
Sorry, I don't agree with Mr Tauro. Bhupathi and Bopanna had teamed together early in the season aimed at the Olympics. The combination was doing well, and it would have been the decent thing to nominate that pair for the Olympics, when Paes was playing with the Czech star, Stepanek. That they lost in the second round is a different matter. Paes and Bhupathi had done extremely well till 2004 when they lost the Olympic bronze medal match. To expect that same pair to click in 2012, despite being eight years older and hardly on speaking terms for some time, was not mature thinking on the AITA's part, and initially nominating Bhupathi and Paes was a wrong decision, which they had to rescind. Having once allowed Bhup and Bop to play together in the Olympics, for the AITA to ban them now is a pathetic show of feeble indignation. Bhupathi and Bopanna should fight the ban on principle.
Whatever, but Bhupati and Boppana are good players and have contributed at large in international tennis for India. This is injustice to them. Has Paes being examined for this case? Indian tennis is yet not matured, its only Paes, Bhupati and than Sania who gave little fame to this game in India. Taking such decisions is pure adding politics to this game and spoiling the attraction for this game. Why selectors are so dependent on these few players, why not they are developing the infrastructe for this game? Are not they punishable for this? If Bhupati and Bopana are guilty, so are the selectors who during olympics started last moment hunt for players for doubles. Why Paes is mum, ask him to speak the truth of the story.
I feel this decision will lead to loss of fame of this game in India.
They got a light punishment..should have been banned for life for their
arrogance and haughtiness before the Olympics
A Case of 'sour grapes' from Bhupathi.
It may be true that the office bearers of AITA have not touched a
tennis racquet but Bhup has no right to say that. He did not listen
even to Mr.Krishna - a man who plays tennis at his age whenever he gets
a chance-. Both Bhup and Bop deserve the punishment. He should have
gracefully accepted the decision and said good bye to tennis. After
all, his not a young colt and he should have shown grace during the
olympics and now. when he is to quit. The punishment will weigh heavily
on his mind and on the mind of his partner , so much so, their
performance in 2012-13 is bound to be dismal. The best is for him to
quit right now.He has done lots of good for Indian tennis and for
himself and people will appreciate if he keeps quite and quits. There
is none who appreciated his behaviour before the olympics and sadly, he
has dragged Bop also into the pit.
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