Bopanna, 46, announced his retirement from professional tennis on November 1, 2025, just a few days short of the one year required when AITA released its SOM roster on October 16, 2026.
Under the rules, athletes must have been retired from active sport for at least one year before applying for inclusion in the roster. AITA's nomination forms also require applicants to certify that they have not participated in a competitive sporting event leading to selection at the district, state or national level for at least one year before submitting their applications.
Bopanna's exclusion comes despite his having sought clarification on his eligibility from AITA administrator Gita Mittal. He reportedly submitted his application after receiving assurances
from the federation that he met the criteria.
The confusion may have stemmed from Bopanna's announcement that he was ending his India career after the Paris Olympics in 2024. However, he continued competing on the professional ATP Tour until announcing his retirement in November 2025, leaving him short of the stipulated period.
Bopanna's legacy extends beyond the court
Bopanna's omission is notable given his achievements and contribution to Indian tennis. He won the mixed doubles title at the 2017 French Open and the men's doubles crown at the 2024 Australian Open. At 43, he also became the oldest player to reach the world No. 1 position in men's doubles.
Beyond his playing career, Bopanna has supported Indian tennis players through a doubles programme that provides financial assistance and helps cover expenses associated with international competition, including travel support for coaches and physiotherapists.
Before ending his international career, Bopanna had announced that the 2023 Davis Cup tie against Morocco in Lucknow would be his final appearance for India and retired his India jersey.
Paes tops roster; Bhupathi & Sania placed in Tier 2
A total of 70 players - 42 men and 28 women - applied for inclusion in the SOM roster, which is intended to comprise 40 sportspersons, split equally between men and women.
The selected 40 members will form the electoral college for choosing sportsperson representatives to AITA's General Body and Executive Committee.
Former Olympic bronze medallist Leander Paes, winner of 18 Grand Slam titles across men's and mixed doubles, is the only sportsperson placed in Tier 1.
Former world No. 1 Mahesh Bhupathi and six-time Grand Slam champion Sania Mirza are in Tier 2. Bhupathi won 12 Grand Slam titles across men's and mixed doubles, while Mirza was a former world No. 1 in women's doubles.
Tier 3 features former India Davis Cup player Anand Amritraj and former Davis Cup player and coach Zeeshan Ali. Veteran player and former Davis Cup captain Jaidip Mukerjea and former national champion Gaurav Natekar are placed in Tier 4.
Former India international Rushmi Chakravarthi is listed in Tier 5, while Ankita Bhambri features in Tier 6. Current Davis Cup coach Ashutosh Singh, Vivek Shokeen and Sai Jayalakshmy are in Tier 7.
Tier 8 includes several former players, coaches and contributors to Indian tennis. Among the men are Sandeep Sanjay Kirtane, Nandan Bal, Enrico Piperno, Shrinath Prahlad, Nitten Kirrtane, Billie Jean King Cup coach Vishal Uppal, Mustafa Ghouse, Mark Dominic Ferreira, Vasudeva Reddy Mummadi, Saurav Kumar Panja, Maharishi Sridhar and J Vijay Kannan.
The women listed in Tier 8 include Sohini Kumari, Janaki Krishnamoorthy, Arthi Venkataraman, Arati Ponnappa Natekar, Shalini Chawla Thakur, Archana Venkata Raman, Radhika Kanitkar, Shruti Sharma, Vishika Chhetri Sharma, Meghha Vakaria, Parul Goswami, Sanaa Bhambri, Shivika Burman, L Renuka Keswani, Sweta Solanki and Prerna Bhambri.
AITA Elections Scheduled for November 5
According to AITA's election notification, four SOM representatives - two men and two women - will be elected to the General Body. Two additional representatives, one man and one woman, will be elected to the Executive Committee.
The notification allows candidates contesting for a SOM representative position in the General Body to also contest for a SOM representative position in the Executive Committee. However, only elected SOM General Body representatives will be eligible to vote and contest in the election for the SOM representatives to the Executive Committee.
A candidate elected as a SOM representative to the Executive Committee will not be eligible to contest for any other post on the committee.
The nomination process is scheduled to take place from October 23 to 25, with the elections set for November 5.
