Rohit Rajpal Announces Candidature for AITA President Post, Pledges Player-Centric Governance

New Delhi, Sep 1: Delhi Lawn Tennis Association (DLTA) President and Indian Davis Cup non-playing captain Rohit Rajpal has announced his candidature for the upcoming elections for the post of All India Tennis Association (AITA) President.

Rajpal's campaign is centred on good governance, transparency and a player-centric approach, with a long-term roadmap aimed at strengthening Indian tennis and creating pathways for athletes to compete at the highest level.

With India targeting the 2036 Summer Olympics, Rajpal said the country needs to build a stronger tennis ecosystem that extends beyond major cities and reaches smaller towns as well.

"Tennis is not just a sport for me; it has been my life since I was a young boy," Rajpal said.

"At 55, my heart still beats for Indian tennis. It is after extensive introspection and consultations with well-wishers across the fraternity that I have decided to step forward. Our focus must be on empowering our athletes, ensuring transparent administration, and creating sustainable ecosystems for champions to emerge."

Rajpal brings experience as both a former player and sports administrator. A former Asian Junior Champion and Asian Games medallist at Beijing, his playing career was cut short after a major back injury that required surgery.

He subsequently moved into sports administration and has spent nearly a decade in various roles with the DLTA and AITA.

As the non-playing captain of the Indian Davis Cup team, Rajpal has overseen a number of important results, with India advancing to the second-round qualifiers ahead of their upcoming tie against South Korea in September. A win in that tie would take India into the final eight nations.

His administrative experience also extends beyond tennis. Rajpal has served as an Executive Board Member of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and was Chef de Mission of the Indian contingent at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.

He has also been involved in Indian volleyball administration, with governance interventions during his tenure culminating in India's bronze-medal finish at the Asian Volleyball Championships.

Announcing his candidature, Rajpal said his focus would be on creating sustainable structures for Indian tennis rather than short-term interventions.

He thanked the Government of India, the IOA and AITA for their support during his various administrative assignments.

Rajpal is expected to release a comprehensive vision document outlining his plans for Indian tennis. The document will cover areas including grassroots development, tournament structures and athlete welfare.

His candidature comes at a time when Indian tennis is looking to strengthen its domestic and international pathways, with the 2036 Olympic ambition placing greater emphasis on developing athletes capable of competing for medals on the global stage.