Indian tennis player, Niki Kaliyanda Poonacha is calling on his colleagues to vote for him in the coming ITF Player Panel Elections scheduled between May 28- June 10.

Recall as part of the initiative of giving a voice to players of lower rankings, the International Tennis Federation (ITF) some weeks ago created the ITF World Tennis Tour Player Panel for athletes competing on the men’s and women’s ITF World Tennis Tour.

According to the governing body, the Player Panel will be a forum for players to make their input and advice on how the tour is run. It also stated that the forum will give players further opportunities to engage with it.

ITF further stated in the statement on its website that part of its ITF2024 strategy was to improve communication with players.

The ITF World Tennis Tour Player Panel will now be joining the likes of the UNIQLO Wheelchair Tennis Tour, formed in 2018, the ITF Seniors circuit established in 2017 and the ITF Beach Tennis Tour created last year.

ITF further stated that the Panel will play an advisory role and recommend to the ITF World Tennis Tour Committee, which in turn reports to the ITF Board of Directors.

So, with the formation of the Panel, tennis players will elect a panel of seven current player members to represents their interests. The panel will have an appointed Chair and a coach.

Niki who took to his Instagram page to announce his candidature said he has faced many difficulties in his seven years on the circuit, adding that players on the lower rank are suffering a lot.

He, therefore, said he is coming out to contest for the role because he wants to make the voices of the players in the lower rung of the rankings heard as they bear the brunt of challenges facing the game.

While noting that small changes would go a long way in securing the comfort of his colleagues, he said it is now time for their voices to be heard and he has a strength that he can represent their concerns effectively.

He revealed that he had talked with a lot of players and he has come up with a few agendas that need to be addressed on the Player Panel.

While calling for their vote, he vowed to do his best if elected into the panel.

Written by: Oladipupo Mojeed