Leander Paes’ path to the All India Tennis Association (AITA) presidency has hit a major hurdle, as the tennis legend is missing from the list of nominees for the November 7 Sportsperson of Outstanding Merit (SOM) elections. Meanwhile, fellow Indian tennis icons Mahesh Bhupathi and Sania Mirza have thrown their hats into the electoral ring, seeking representation in the association’s General Body (GB) and Executive Committee (EC).

Paes’ absence is particularly consequential because winning the SOM election was a necessary step towards establishing his eligibility to contest for the AITA president’s post.

Despite being the only player in Tier I of the association’s 40-player roster, he has not filed his nomination for the upcoming SOM polls.

The development complicates matters for the Bengal Tennis Association (BTA), which publicly backed Paes for the presidency. Paes himself heads the association and supported his candidature for the top post.

However, his electoral ambitions face a constitutional roadblock. Paes remains ineligible to contest the presidential election as a state representative under the amended AITA constitution.

He can still participate in the November 27 AITA polls as Bengal’s representative, but that route will not let him contest the presidency.

The SOM election was therefore a crucial opportunity for Paes to overcome the eligibility barrier.

His decision not to enter the November 7 contest leaves his presidential prospects uncertain under the current electoral framework.

Bhupathi and Mirza, meanwhile, have formally entered the process by filing their nominations for representation in the AITA’s General Body and Executive Committee.

Their participation brings two prominent names from Indian tennis into the association’s electoral process.

The November 7 SOM polls will precede the broader AITA elections scheduled for November 27, setting the stage for a significant period in the administration of Indian tennis.

With Paes missing from the SOM nominations list despite the BTA's public backing, attention will now turn to how the electoral process unfolds and whether his ambitions for the association’s highest office can find a viable path under the amended constitution.