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
