Indian tennis legend Leander Paes on Saturday formally took charge as president of the Bengal Tennis Association, succeeding Hironmoy Chatterjee after the body's Annual General Meeting.
As the results of last year's AITA elections stay unannounced, the rival factions in the national tennis federation have picked separate team managers for the upcoming Davis Cup tie against Switzerland, leading to an ego tussle between the members.
India's non-playing Davis Cup captain Mahesh Bhupathi, who was to be part of the conference call, informed that the discussions have been postponed by a day.
Indian cricket team had last toured Pakistan in 2007, and after that, no team across any sport in the country has toured Pakistan.
AITA said last week they had written to International Tennis Federation (ITF) asking them to shift the tie to a neutral venue
In an email to the ITF on Monday, AITA chief Hironmoy Chatterjee said India had full confidence the ITF and Pakistan Tennis Federation would organise an "excellent" Asia/Oceania Group 1 tie but said more security checks might be in order.
India's tennis ace Leander Paes has been elected as one of the seven vice-presidents of Bengal Tennis Association (BTA). The Kolkata ace, who now lives in Mumbai, was not present at the Annual General Meeting on Saturday but has accepted the new role, which was offered to him sometime back.
All India Tennis Association (AITA) has decided to send his name to the government for this year's Arjuna award.
India were drawn against their Pakistan for an away Asia-Oceania Zone Group 1 fixture.
Former Davis Cupper Rohit Rajpal, who was already a member, has been elevated as Chairman.
The Indian tennis federation on Saturday confirmed that it will approach world governing body ITF, seeking a neutral venue for the Davis Cup tie against Pakistan.
The All India Tennis Association (AITA), along with 10 other national federations (NSFs), was invited by sports secretary Radhey Shyam Julaniya for a video conference. AITA secretary general Hironmoy Chatterjee said they were 'extremely disappointed' by the attitude of Julaniya, who 'only talks and does not want to listen'.
Leander Paes is set to return to the Indian Davis Cup squad after making himself available for the upcoming tie against Pakistan as the country's top players and non-playing captain Mahesh Bhupathi have refused to travel to the neighbouring nation, citing security concerns.
It left the players and the team management disappointed and after discussing the matter among themselves, they have decided to approach the federation.
"The recent developments have resulted in an atmosphere which is not conducive for a happy friendly tie between the two teams which have immense respect for each other," AITA General Secretary Hironmoy Chatterjee wrote to the ITF in an email seen by Reuters.
The Indian tennis players are "excited and available" to travel to Pakistan for the upcoming Davis Cup tie but want to be assured that all the security measures are in place before they reach Islamabad.
An independent tribunal of the ITF will now deliberate upon the appeal and make a final decision by November 18.
'They are behaving according to their convenience. They have no right to ask question on areas which are outside players' domain. Their job is to play. Who is he (Bopanna) to ask such questions? There is (AITA) administration to look into these matters'
With speculation rife that Rio Olympics silver medallist Venus Williams was allegedly allowed to use prohibited substance under Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUEs) clause, Indian tennis ace Sania Mirza on Friday rubbished reports suggesting that she has demanded the All India Tennis Association (AITA) to raise the matter with the appropriate authorities.
Agreeing to the popular demand from players, the All Indian Tennis Association on Wednesday selected Delhi as venue for the Davis Cup World Group Play-off tie against top seeds Czech Republic, to be held from September 18-20.
India to host Italy on grass in Kolkata
'We had just kept their recognition in abeyance, pending a verification with regards to new AITA President'
No Indian Davis Cup squad has travelled to Pakistan since March 1964 and in that tie, held in Lahore, India had won 4-0.
Bopanna being the highest-ranked doubles player in the country is automatic choice for the doubles rubber.
Pune is likely to grab the hosting rights of India's only ATP 250 event, Chennai Open, from next year with the backing of the Maharashtra state government.
The All India Tennis Association, often accused of being lax in dealing with age fraud, had no clear answers to what transpired at CLTA.
The source said logistics became a big issue for almost all the participating countries.
The All India Tennis Association decided against seeking a change of venue for the Davis Cup tie versus Pakistan in Islamabad, scheduled on September 14 and 15.
AITA won't force any player to travel to Pakistan and is willing to send even a second-string team to avoid suspension
India's top singles player Yuki Bhambri and Asian Games gold-medallist Divij Sharan have pulled out of the Davis Cup World Group Play-off tie against Serbia due to injuries while Sumit Nagal has refused to join the team as a stand-by.
The All India Tennis association (AITA), taking a more aggressive stance than earlier, said it would not request for a neutral venue for the Asia Oceania Zone 1 tie on September 14-15 as is being asked by the International Tennis Federation (ITF).
Bhupathi said AITA did not have the courtesy to inform him that he won't continue as captain.
Bhupathi had, on Sunday, made public his WatsApp chat with Paes, to counter accusations that he used his position as Davis Cup team captain to exclude the latter from the playing squad.
AITA likely to request ITF to consider neutral venue for Davis Cup tie vs Pak
Yuki Bhambri is aghast at being excluded from the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) after preferring the US Open over Asian Games
The All India Tennis Association (AITA) on Tuesday terminated the contract of Vijay Amritraj's Champions Tennis League due to breach of contract, much to the shock of the former star, who says the move has come at a time when they were striving to revive the League.
Divij Sharan, who was a reserve in the Indian Davis Cup team, has decided not to travel for the away tie against China, a move which may soon pave the way for introduction of a code of conduct for players.
Veteran tennis star Leander Paes was retained in the Indian Davis Cup team for next month's Asia/Oceania Zone tie against Uzbekistan.
Barely a month after breaking covers, the models -- the Jawa, the Jawa 42 and the Perak -- were sold out, reports Shally Seth Mohile.
'I do understand Rohan is disappointed for not getting the award, but it was because he did not meet the criteria for the award in 2016. He should see the criteria before making any comment'
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