New Delhi, March 28 (IANS): The Asian Tennis Federation (ATF) on Saturday proposed its head, Anil Khanna, also the All India Tennis Association (AITA) chief, for the presidency of the International Tennis Federation (ITF).

The ITF elections will be held at its the Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Santiago on September 25.

Khanna faces competition from United States Tennis Association chief David Haggerty, Swiss Tennis Association Rene Stammbach president and ITF executive vice president Juan Margets.

All four candidates currently serve on the ITF board.

The incumbent ITF president Francesco Ricci Bitti announced on March 25 his intention stepping down after being at the helm for 16 years.

Khanna has been the president of ATF since 2005.

Khanna's candidacy has received support from several Asian tennis countries including secretary general of ATF Sri Lankan Suresh Subramaniuam, Kuwait's chairman Sheikh Al Ahmed Al Sabah, Thailand's former deputy prime minister Suwat Liptapanlop and Pakistan senator Syed Dilawar Abbas.

Life president of AITA Yashwant Sinha also said that it would be an honour for the country if Khanna is elected as the ITF president.