The All India Tennis Association (AITA), the governing body of tennis in India, finds itself embroiled in a power struggle between warring factions, erupting ahead of India's Davis Cup tie against Switzerland. This internal conflict has manifested in the selection of separate team managers for the upcoming Davis Cup match, highlighting a deep-seated ego tussle among its members.

The controversy stems from the unresolved results of the AITA elections held on September 28, 2024. The results remain sealed and unannounced due to a petition filed in the Delhi High Court by former players Somdev Devvarman and Purav Raja, who alleged violations of the Sports Code (2011). In the interim, the old Executive Committee (EC) continues to manage the AITA's affairs.

A fresh dispute arose when Anil Dhupar was removed from his position as Secretary General on June 27 of this year, a decision he has challenged in court. Sunder Iyer was subsequently appointed as interim secretary. The Ministry has currently refused to intervene in the AITA's internal conflict.

Iyer informed EC members on August 9 that Sujit Roy, the secretary of the Tripura association, would accompany the Indian Davis Cup team to Biel, Switzerland, as the team manager for the tie scheduled for September 12 and 13. This announcement triggered a flurry of email exchanges among EC members, debating the legitimacy of the appointment.

Dhupar, contesting the legality of the EC meeting that led to his removal, asserted that it has been a longstanding tradition for the Secretary General to travel with the team as manager, with the approval of AITA President Anil Jain. Hironmoy Chatterjee, President of the Bengal Tennis Association (BTA), countered that the Executive Committee holds the authority to nominate the manager and that Dhupar's past travels as manager were subject to EC approval. Chatterjee advised members to disregard Dhupar's email.

The AITA, established in 1920, is affiliated with the International Tennis Federation (ITF) and the Asian Tennis Federation (ATF). It is responsible for managing Indian national representative tennis teams, including the Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup teams, and organizing tournaments within India.

This internal strife within the AITA comes at a crucial time, potentially overshadowing the team's preparation for the Davis Cup. With the National Sports Governance Act 2025 now in effect, it is anticipated that the matter will soon be resolved.