The All India Tennis Association (AITA) has strongly rejected a media report suggesting that it did not submit the names of players for consideration for the 2026 Asian Games, insisting that it had formally communicated its position to the Indian Olympic Association (IOA).
In a statement released on Tuesday, AITA said it had written to IOA CEO Raghuram Iyer on July 3, seeking an urgent review of the exclusion of Manas Dhamne, Ankita Raina, Sahaja Yamalapalli, Vaidehee Chaudhari, Vaishnavi Adkar and Prarthana Thombare. The federation said it had sought the inclusion of players selected through its selection process.
The controversy comes ahead of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, scheduled from September 19 to October 4, with the Sports Ministry defending its selection criteria.
AITA DISPUTES REPORT OVER PLAYER RECOMMENDATIONS
AITA said its July 3 representation was aimed at ensuring India sends its “strongest possible tennis contingent” and maximises its medal chances.
The federation said it had asked the IOA to “urgently review the exclusion of the named players, reassess the tennis entries on an event-specific basis and approve their inclusion” to strengthen India’s medal prospects.
The statement directly challenges a report citing a Sports Authority of India (SAI) source, which claimed the five excluded players were not part of the long list submitted by AITA.
AITA, however, said its documentary evidence establishes that it “communicated the names of the players in question and formally sought their inclusion in the Indian contingent.”
The federation called any suggestion that it did not provide the names or seek their inclusion “factually incorrect”, saying it was contradicted by its written representation to the IOA dated July 3.
The row has gained attention because of the credentials of the players involved. Sahaja Yamalapalli is India’s top-ranked women’s singles player, while Vaishnavi Adkar is also among the country’s leading players. Manas Dhamne has reached a Challenger final, Vaidehee Chaudhari is a two-time national champion and Prarthana Thombare is a former Asian Games bronze medallist.
AITA INSISTS STRONGEST TEAM SHOULD BE SELECTED
The Sports Ministry has maintained that its criteria require singles players to meet a top-six ranking benchmark in Asia and doubles players to be inside the top eight over a 12-month evaluation period.
Former India player Rohan Bopanna has also criticised the selection approach, arguing that players should get opportunities to prove themselves at major events.
AITA, meanwhile, has reiterated its stance, saying “all players selected by the AITA selection committee should form part of the Indian tennis squad for the Asian Games” and that no player should be excluded when their inclusion provides India with a legitimate medal opportunity.
The association said its July 3 representation was made in the “larger interest of Indian tennis and Indian sport”, with the aim of ensuring India fields its strongest possible team and that “every legitimate medal opportunity is preserved.”
The statement adds another layer to the ongoing selection controversy, with AITA putting its version of events on record and firmly disputing the suggestion that it failed to recommend the players in question.
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