Arjuna award controversy: Rohan Bopanna blasts AITA for lack of professionalism

Bengaluru, August 5: Tennis star Rohan Bopanna slammed the All India Tennis Association for failing to recommend his name for the Arjuna award. The AITA had recommended Saketh Myneni, much junior to Bopanna, for the award.

In fact, the AITA can recommend more than one player for the award, and as such Bopanna hit out at the lack of professionalism of the national tennis body.

"When the system (the Tennis Association in this case) functions sloppily that is not only disrespectful but also robs one of the hope of a deserving acknowledgement. I am calling out to the lack of professionalism and efficiency by AITA for not sending my nomination for the Arjuna Award before the deadline," said Bopanna,winner of this year's French Open mixed doubles title with Gabriela Dabrowski.

The Karnataka man lambasted the body for backtracking from its earlier stand to nominate him for the award. "I have witnessed many such excuses for the past decade (while I was eligible and my record didn't falter) and then too, have never stood for it.

"AITA gained a lot of traffic in the media for claiming they would be nominating me for the Arjuna award this year and for it to not materialize due to the disorder in the 'Order' makes me question this so much more. Especially since the criteria to be nominated apart from a deserving and consistent performance is also that more than one tennis player can be nominated for the esteemed award," he said.

However, the 37-year-old was fullsome in his praise for Myneni. "I want to take this platform to congratulate Saketh Myneni on receiving this award. I couldn't be more proud as I have seen him grow into the player and the man he is today. We professional tennis players put in a lot to bring laurels to our country. And no one could question otherwise," he said.