AITA Rebuts SAI Omission Claim Over Asian Games Tennis Squad
· Sports · Times of India, NDTV Sports
The All India Tennis Association has categorically rejected claims that it failed to submit the names of excluded players to the Indian Olympic Association for the 2026 Asian Games. The national federation responded to a Sports Authority of India source who stated that players including Manas Dhamne, Sahaja Yamalapalli, Vaishnavi Adkar, Vaidehee Chaudhari, and Prarthana Thombare were omitted from the initial shortlist. However, AITA accessed a July 3 letter sent to IOA CEO Raghuram Iyer that explicitly recommended the inclusion of these athletes. The Sports Ministry has maintained its selection policy requiring singles players to be among Asia's top six and doubles players inside the top eight. AITA argued that India had earned multiple strong acceptance list positions in doubles events to maximise medal opportunities.
Why it matters
The dispute directly impacts top Indian tennis players seeking selection for the 2026 Asian Games contingent and highlights coordination friction between national sports federations and government bodies.
Read the original report — Times of India
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