1 week ago
Asian Games Tennis Selection Sparks AITA-SAI Dispute
India is choosing tennis players for the 2026 Asian Games.
The tennis team announced has seven players, although the tennis association had proposed 12.
Five players were left out.
The Sports Authority of India said their names were not on the tennis association’s shortlist.
The tennis association disagreed and said it had asked officials to reconsider the decision.
The disagreement is about whether the five players were properly put forward.
New rules say singles players must be among Asia’s top six.
The Asian Games will take place in Aichi-Nagoya from September 19 to October 4, 2026.
India’s 2026 Asian Games tennis squad contains seven players instead of the 12 proposed by AITA.
Manas Dhamne, Sahaja Yamalapalli, Vaidehee Chaudhari, Prarthana Thombare and Vaishnavi Adkar were omitted.
SAI said the five players were not included in AITA’s shortlist sent to the Indian Olympic Association.
AITA rejected that claim and said it had formally sought a review of the players’ non-selection.
The selection criteria required singles players to rank among Asia’s top six and doubles pairs among the top eight.
- Who
- The All India Tennis Association, the Sports Authority of India, the Indian Olympic Association and the five omitted tennis players.
- What
- A dispute has emerged over the omission of five players from India’s 2026 Asian Games tennis squad.
- Where
- The athletes are being selected for the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
- When
- The dispute followed the announcement of the contingent last week; AITA cited a written representation dated July 3, 2026.
- Why
- The players were omitted under selection criteria requiring top-six Asian singles rankings or top-eight Asian doubles rankings during a 12-month evaluation period, while AITA and SAI disagree over whether they were properly shortlisted.
AITA’s account
SAI’s account
Whether the five players were submitted
AITA’s account
AITA said it fought for the five players’ selection and made an unequivocal written representation to the Indian Olympic Association seeking a review.
SAI’s account
SAI said the five players were not mentioned in the shortlist that AITA provided to the Indian Olympic Association.
Strength of India’s tennis contingent
AITA’s account
AITA said the issue concerned ensuring that India fielded its strongest possible tennis contingent, not merely the selection of individual athletes.
SAI’s account
The announced squad reflected the selection process and the criteria introduced by the Sports Ministry, according to the report.
Key facts
- Asian Games dates
- September 19 to October 4, 2026
- Host location
- Aichi-Nagoya
- Overall Indian contingent
- 429 athletes across 35 disciplines
- Tennis squad announced
- Seven players
- AITA proposal
- A 12-member tennis team
- Omitted players
- Manas Dhamne, Sahaja Yamalapalli, Vaidehee Chaudhari, Prarthana Thombare and Vaishnavi Adkar
- Selection thresholds
- Top six in Asia for singles and top eight in Asia for doubles
Quotes
Sunder Iyer
Secretary General of the All India Tennis Association
“...any suggestion that the AITA did not provide names or did not seek the inclusion of its selected players is factually incorrect and contradicts the Association's written representation to the IOA dated July 3, 2026,”
firstpost.com
Sources
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