Sania vows to be in top 50 this year

New Delhi,Tennis star Sania Mirza Friday said she wanted to rise in the international hierarchy, to be in the top 50 this year. "I want to be in the top 50 by the end of the year, and I think it's possible and achievable," she said after Sports Minister Sunil Dutt presented her two books by former prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru when she called on him at his office. Dutt, who congratulated the Hyderabad Open champion for being the first Indian woman to win a WTA championship, presented her "Letters From a Father to His Daughter" and "Two Alone, Two Together", a compilation of letters between Nehru and Indira Gandhi. Dutt said Sania, 18, who is ranked 99th by WTA, was "like my daughter" and hoped she would one day become the world No.1. Sania's family members were with her when she met Dutt.

Sania said her current priority was to nurse her injured ankle and she was looking forward to playing in more Grand Slam tournaments.

"My ankle is better now as I haven't been practising recently," said the Hyderabad sensation.

"I am going to play in Dubai and see how they hold up," she said, referring to the Dubai Open starting Feb 21.

Sania had won the Hyderabad Open playing with an injured ankle and an injured thigh for much of the event, relying on painkillers.

http://www.keralanext.com/news/?id=120787