AITA softens stand, to hold elections as per Sports Code

Sabi Hussain

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, November 25

In a major victory for the Sports Ministry, the All India Tennis Association (AITA) and the Archery Association of India (AAI) have agreed to hold elections for different posts as per the Sports Code.

While AITA will elect its new president in place of veteran administrator Anil Khanna on December 1, AAI has decided to make amendment to its constitution in consonance with the age and tenure guidelines of the Sports Code. 

Both the federations are under suspension for violating the Code.

Praveen Mahajan, one of the senior vice-presidents of AITA, is likely to take over the reins from Khanna. 

Mahajan, an Indian Revenue Service officer, was elected AITA vice-president at its Annual General Meeting in Indore on September 3. 

According to a source, the Sports Ministry has only received her nomination from AITA till date as it wants her to get elected “unanimously”.

However, there’s a catch — AITA has called an executive council meeting to elect the president, while, as per the rules, a sports federation needs to convene an AGM to elect office-bearers. 

AITA, during its meeting in Indore in September, had called the AGM of 23 affiliated units.

“Much will depend on the Ministry’s directive. It may not allow holding the elections for the post of president without calling the AGM,” the source said.

AITA softened its stand after the Ministry had expressed serious reservations about Khanna’s appointment as ‘life president’ at its September 3 AGM, in complete violation of the Sports Code. 

The tennis body was told to hold elections for the president’s post within three months. Moreover, the Ministry had declared the Indore AGM “invalid” after allegations were made that AITA had “forged” the Ministry’s stamps and signatures while informing it about the AGM in writing.

Khanna was given a second term (2016-2020) at the AGM. However, he had refused to accept the post till the time the matter concerning the Sports Code was settled and was later made the life president. 

Khanna, who first became president in 2012, didn’t serve the mandatory four-year cooling-off period after serving three consecutive terms as AITA secretary general, which led to AITA’s de-recognition in April 2015.