Dubai: The Asian Tennis Federation (ATF) has expressed hope that proposals submitted to the International Tennis Federation (ITF) during its annual general meeting (AGM) on Wednesday can create a favourable response that will help propel tennis into its next phase of growth worldwide.

ATF President Anil Kumar Khanna cited financial success and independence, a better representation of nations and superior governance as key issues that need to be addressed in order for the sport to prosper.

“The ITF is not a financially successful body. Right now it is not making a surplus, at best it is making $500,000 [Dh1.83 million] a year and our development expenses have gone down significantly to what it was 10 years ago,” he said.

“So basically what the ATF is telling the ITF is that it must make a profit of $50 million, like the Grand Slams are making a profit of $100 million, at least for the sake of it’s 210 member nations, so that it can have worldwide development.

“This can be generated through its own Grand Slam-like tournament, a two-week event which can be called the ITF World Championship. Even if the ITF can make even $50 million, we will be happy.

“That money will not belong to one nation it will belong to 201 nations. It will be money well spent in Asia, in Africa, in Central America, in South America. Today we find tennis getting centred around only Europe making it is easier for Europe-based players to succeed.

“Asians on the other hand face logistical hurdles having to travel far, spend more and get little in return, should they lose.”

Khanna, who is well respected for his untiring efforts to raise the profile of tennis in Asia since he assumed office in 2005, also said that the ATF had made a strong case for higher representation of smaller nations.

“Today the best form of governance is democracy, so why is it that the ITF is trying to move towards oligarchy by giving more votes to the Grand Slams and reducing the votes of other nations,” he said, pointing to the proposal to raise the votes from 12 to 15, giving Grand Slams 12 more votes overall.

“It is more important to empower ‘O Vote’ nations because they must feel that they belong to the decision making process. At today’s meeting, only four O Vote nations have come, out of a total of 67.

“Why? Because they feel that they have no voice.”

“Fair representation will popularise the growth of tennis and there will be more players who will come out and the world will see more growth in the sport.”

Khanna was also of the view that Asian tennis was fundamentally in good health and that these were exciting times for sport in general.

“We have a large number of players coming through; we have a finalist in the US Open [Kei Nishikori], we have a women’s champion [Li Na] we have a mixed doubles champion [Leander Paes]; in short Asian tennis is looking good.

“A lot of major events are taking place in Asia; the Youth Olympics, the Youth Asian Games, the WTA Masters. All the nations in Asia are geared up for the promotion of sports in a large way.”

The ITF’s annual general meeting is being held at the Mina A’Salam Hotel in Dubai and will conclude on Thursday.