India's non-playing Davis Cup captain Rohit Rajpal on Saturday clarified that his "shut-up" remark was meant for a few "agenda-driven" people consistently targeting him and was not directed at the country's tennis community as has been projected.
While asking for the report, IOA made it clear that it fully acknowledges that it is the prerogative of the National Sports Federation (NSF) -- in this case AITA -- to select the team.
India's Yuki Bhambri and his French partner Albano Olivett clinched the men's doubles title at the Swiss Open ATP Tour tennis tournament with a hard-fought win over Ugo Humbert and Fabrice Martin in the final in Gstaad
Mahesh Bhupathi, who led a revolt of 11 players against the All India Tennis Association, has slammed the AITA for the way it formed a three-member panel to look into the issues raised by the rebels, alleging that the panel would be 'biased' and serve no purpose.
AITA Secretary General Bharat Oza said that Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna can reach out to the executive committee and appeal against the punishment handed to them on the ground of indiscipline.
Mahesh Bhupathi has complained to the Sports Ministry over selection of the men's double team for London Olympics raising apprehensions over the AITA's selection process wherein he is being forced to pair with estranged partner Leander Paes.
The All India Tennis Association on Friday selected Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi for the men's doubles event at the London Olympics, rejecting the latter's insistence on being paired with Rohan Bopanna in the mega-event next month.
An independent tribunal of the ITF will now deliberate upon the appeal and make a final decision by November 18.
Defending Nagal, who has been dropped from the team for the upcoming New Zealand tie due to serious breach of discipline, and criticising AITA for publicly humiliating the player, Devvarman wrote in an open letter in the Indian Express that AITA could have dealt with the player privately.
Indian football legend Chuni Goswami slammed the AITA for not acting firm against Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna in the Olympics doubles team selection row and said some action should be taken against them.
India will play against Togo in the Davis Cup World Group I Play-offs to be held between January 31 and February 2 next year, according to the draw conducted by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) in London on Monday.
The AITA appointed three-member committee to look into players issue had its first meeting on Friday and observed that players-friendly conditions should prevail and for that it would seek help of both the Federation and the government.
The All India Tennis Association in a statement said the Davis Cup is absolutely clean and no such incident has ever been heard of before or in recent past in India.
The All India Tennis Association on Saturday lashed out at Australia for pulling out of next month's Davis Cup tie against India, saying they have acted in an "arrogant" and "irresponsible" manner "by creating a situation solely out of their mind and not based on facts". AITA also said it would convey its sentiments to the International Tennis Federation in a letter following Australia withdrawing from the May 8-10 Asia-Oceania Group I tie.
Ramkumar Ramanathan and N Sriram Balaji could play well only in patches to lose the do-or-die doubles against Andre Goransson and Filip Bergevi.
The All India Tennis Association on Sunday came up with a compromise formula to placate the revolting players as it accommodated some of their demands, such as change in support staff, but also kept its authority intact by keeping the final decision on all matters in its hand.
Stung by the two-year ban imposed on him, veteran tennis ace Mahesh Bhupathi hit back at the All India Tennis Association on Tuesday, accusing the game's governing body of resorting to 'divide-and-rule' policy and said its 'dictatorial attitude' will be harmful for the future of Indian tennis.
The AITA said it would again approach Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna to pair with Leander Paes, with first choice again being the experienced Mahesh Bhupathi.
Changing its stance towards Somdev Devvarman's pulling out of the Asian Games squad, the AITA said it supports the step taken by the top singles player of the country.
Yashwant Sinha expressed displeasure over Rohan Bopanna's decision to opt out of the upcoming Davis Cup tie.
The Karnataka High court on Saturday stayed the two-year ban issued imposed on tennis players Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna by the All India Tennis Association on disciplinary grounds.
Davis Cup: Ramkumar to lead Indian challenge against Pakistan on grass courts
Taking potshots at the All India Tennis Association, senior pro Mahesh Bhupathi, on Thursday, said he is not sure of pairing with Sania Mirza in the mixed doubles event of the London Olympics because of the national body's "funny politics".
Bopanna is justified in picking a partner of his choice since rules permit him to do so, but at the same time it holds true that even if Bopanna had ended up at No. 11 in the world rankings on the cut-off date, he and Paes, with their combined ranking, would have made the draw by a margin if not comfortably.
Stung by the boycott of top players for the Davis Cup tie, a beleaguered AITA has decided to appoint a special committee to look into the grievances of the rebels even as the standoff showed no signs of ending with the tennis body and the players engaging in a fresh blame game.
The All India Tennis Association on Wednesday said they are examining the concerns of the eight elite players who have shot off a communication to the federation, demanding drastic changes in the way the country's Davis Cup team is handled by the AITA.
The All India Tennis Association (AITA) on Thursday insisted that without its approval no ATP or WTA event can be organised in India. AITA sought to clear the air after some sections of the media quoted ATP as saying that it can sanction private bodies to hold events taking into account the organisers' ability and without any third party approval.
Veteran Indian tennis player Mahesh Bhupathi on Monday indicated that all his issues with the All India Tennis Association (AITA) have been sorted out and he may represent the country in the upcoming Davis Cup tie against Korea.
The All India Tennis Association (AITA) on Wednesday dismissed Mahesh Bhupathi's allegation that the national federation is run by only one man and asserted that it is a "democratic" institution.
India's non-playing Davis Cup captain Mahesh Bhupathi, who was to be part of the conference call, told PTI that "call is cancelled till further notice".
AITA is contemplating action against Sasikumar Mukund for not wearing the official jersey during the Davis Cup tie against Morocco.
According to sources, Sania's mother Naseema had rung up AITA Life President and ITF Vice President Anil Khanna on Thursday morning asking him to look into the reports that accuses Venus Williams to taking drugs at the Rio Games.
Keen to settle the payment dispute involving elite tennis players at the earliest, the Sports Ministry on Saturday said it was willing to clear the dues even on receiving the minimum documentation from AITA.
India's Davis Cup captain will get Rs 250,000 for his fine showing in the Davis Cup match against New Zealand earlier this month.
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.
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.
The AITA has retained the team for the Davis Cup tie against Japan, with Leander Paes at the helm of affairs.
India's top two singles players Sumit Nagal and Sasi Kumar Mukund have conveyed to the national tennis federation that they won't travel to Pakistan for the next Davis Cup tie.
The star-studded TPL auction saw the presence of the tennis icons Leander Paes, Mahesh Bhupathi and Sania Mirza, who gathered together after many years to promote the sport, along with Bollywood celebs Rakul Preet Singh and Sonali Bendre.
'If I keep criticising AITA, I won't get a call from them. I am still weighing my options. I have done a lot of good things, the work ethics, I have a lot to offer'
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