I need to be more consistent, says Sania

DUBAI — India’s tennis sensation Sania Mirza is eagerly looking forward to competing in this year’s French Open.

The 19-year-old tennis star, who is making waves on the international circuit, however, has a few things to sort out. Mirza, forced to take a five-and-a-half-week sabbatical because ankle injury, will have a bone scan at the end of this month. “If that is clear, then I will be going to Italy for some training at the Bob Brett Tennis Academy in Italy, followed by the French Open.”

Mirza is also searching for a coach who could hone her precocious talent. “The coach would be a foreigner,” she made it clear.

“I have short-listed some people but it is too early to spell out any names. A lot of things will have to be considered, so we have to wait and see,” she said.

Mirza — in Dubai to unveil the new corporate identity of Al Haseena Jewellery — was talking to the media about her plans at the Renaissance Hotel here yesterday.

Asked about her target at the French Open, she said she only wanted to go out there and give her best.

“Because I advanced to the third round in some tournaments, it does not mean that I am going to reach the third or fourth round each time I play in a grand slam.”

She, however, conceded that the clay surface at Roland Garros is not her favourite. “I prefer hard courts as I have won a couple of tournaments there. But all the same, if you have to play tennis, you have to be able to play on all surfaces,” she said.

Looking back on her experience during her participation in the DDF Open Championships in Dubai recently, Mirza said she was overwhelmed with the support she got from the fans. “To be honest I felt as if I were playing in Hyderabad in India. The number of Indians I saw, I do not think I have seen so many Indians anywhere outside India. And to have the whole stadium cheering only for you is simply amazing.“

But despite her achievement in a short span of time Mirza is aiming higher and looking for consistency in her game. “I am considered one of the hard hitters on the women’s circuit. I think what matters now is consistency in my game and how much I can hit the same way. So that means practise and practise more and hard work.”

Talking about tennis and cricket in India, she said: “Cricket is almost a religion in India and that is something you cannot change. It is my favourite sport too, so I cannot say anything about it.”

No wonder, her favourite cricketer is Sachin Tendulkar whom she has met and was so much overwhelmed that she could not recall what he said to her. “He is a very nice person, probably one of the best cricket stars I have met ... a down to earth person guy.

Mirza was presented with a ‘Tribute Leaf’ by Arif B. Rahman, director of ETA-Star, the parent company of Al Haseena. Rahman said the presentation was a tribute to women by honouring a woman of substance.

“And Sania Mirza has achieved so much in such a short time that the whole world is proud of her,” he said.

Sania Mirza will inaugurate the showroom of Al Haseena company in Dubai

Al Haseena plans to expand its distribution network by doubling its retail showrooms over the next two years in the UAE and other countries.

The company, a part of the ETA - Star group, is also embarking on a brand revitalisation programme. Indian tennis ace Sania Mirza will inaugurate the forthcoming opening of its newest showroom, the first to feature its new brand identity, at the Suncity Hotel on Al Fahidi Street, Bur Dubai.

Sports stars rake in the moolah!

Sania Mirza is on a winning spree, and every time she lobs the ball across the net, endorsement companies add another zero to her cheque.

In just one week, the golden girl of Indian sport has found her endorsement fee increasing sharply from Rs 50 lakh (Rs 5 million) to Rs 1 crore (Rs 10 million), perhaps the highest ever in the history of Indian sport in such a short spell.

From Rs 5.5 lakh (Rs 550,000) at the start of the year to Rs 1 crore at the start of this month, Mirza is serving up money. Corporate breaths hang on her forward and backward swings

Sania Mirza
TOTAL ENDORSEMENTS Rate per endorsement: 5
Jan '05, before her match with Serena Williams	Rs 5.5 lakh
Feb 11, after winning the WTA title	Rs 40-50 lakh
March 1, after defeating world number 7 in Dubai	Rs 80 lakh-1 crore

Virender Sehwag
TOTAL ENDORSEMENTS Rate per endorsement: 11
2001	Rs 10-15 lakh
Prior to World Cup 2003	Rs 35-40 lakh
When he hit 309 in Pakistan in 2004	Rs 70 lakh
Current rate	Rs 1 crore

Irfan Pathan
TOTAL ENDORSEMENTS Rate per endorsement: 8
Feb-04	Rs 25-30 lakh
Current rate	Rs 50-60 lakh

HOW MUCH THE OTHERS GET*

Sachin Tendulkar

Rs 3 - 6/7 crore

Shah Rukh Khan

Rs 2.5 - 3.5 crore

Amitabh Bachchan

Rs 2 - 3 crore

Aishwarya Rai

Rs 1.5 - 2 crore

Saif Ali Khan

Rs 75 lakh - 1 crore

Sourav Ganguly

Rs 75 lakh - 1.25 cr

Rahul Dravid

Rs 60 -70 lakh

*Industry estimates of endorsement for one company per year

In a nation devoted to cricket, her iconic status is very recent and just as vulnerable. Already punters are wondering what will happen when she loses.

Will her fees fall, her celebrity status suffer? Or will she take it in her stride, just as she's managed the better deals from companies over established stars like Virender Sehwag and Irfan Pathan?

Certainly, it wasn't always this easy, even for this smart-talking tennis player who manages to floor everyone with her sophisticated presence. For over two years, Bangalore-based Globosport tried to hawk Sania Mirza for advertising endorsements, but there were few takers.

Executives of the company owned by tennis ace Mahesh Bhupathi made a pitch to over 30 top corporates across the country. Only three, including Tata Tea, obliged -- and then at a throwaway price of Rs 5 lakh (Rs 500,000) a year.

But last week Mirza was the country's hottest sports star after a sensational victory against the world number seven, Svetlana Kuznetsova, in Dubai. The win followed her hyped match with top seeded Serena Williams and her victory in the WTA tournament in Hyderabad.

Says an elated Anirban Das Blah, vice president-marketing and sales, Globosport: "After Sania played with number one seed Serena Williams, we had 22 offers for endorsements. But with her win at the WTA world tennis tournament in Hyderabad, another eight offers were added. Corporates are lining up for her, and her price is shooting up."

Neither Sania nor Globosport are complaining. After her price went up nearly 20 times in the last month, she's begun to give sleepless nights to even the country's most sought-after cricket stars.

Blah says that Mirza has already signed three as-yet-undisclosed deals, and negotiations are on to fill one more slot. "That will be filled if the company we're negotiating with is willing to pay more."

Already, Globosport has decided to limit the number of new endorsements she will undertake in a year to a maximum of four, so prices can be kept high.

Says Blah, "Unlike cricket, where nearly 70 per cent of your earnings come from endorsements, in tennis the rules are different as the prize money is huge. So, we would rather concentrate on getting her into the top 25 of the game."

But in Sania's case, the sales pitch is as innovative as her game: she is the only face in tennis and has no competition, unlike in cricket where there are more than 11 celebrities jostling for TV space.

Says Blah, "Her achievement connect is stronger than any film actress's, and her image cuts across all societies and towns, so she can reach out effectively to both the youth and to women."

Advertisers who have signed up with her agree with Blah's brand positioning. Tata Tea, for instance, wanted to change customer perception of tea as an old-fashioned, fuddy-duddy beverage.

Says Vivek Mathur, vice president-marketing in Tata Tea, "We wanted Tata Tea to be a youthful, outdoor and action-oriented brand that gives you the energy to succeed." Mirza fitted the bill as someone stepping out and striving to succeed, not someone who had already reached the top.

The tea company also wanted to understand whether an upmarket game like tennis was recognised and understood by women in smaller towns.

A dip-stick study in Gorakhpur came back with some interesting revelations -- not only were women familiar with tennis, thanks to television surfing, they also wanted their children to play the game. Tea sales in January, when the ad campaign was running, went up by over 40 per cent over the previous year at Tata Tea.

But Sania is not the only youth sports icon hitting the big time. Corporates are looking for youthful, fresh faces with a long-term future, and are willing to the pay the price for it, even as endorsement rates are spiralling. Among those who have caught their -- and the country's -- fancy is the rock-jawed cricket pace bowler Irfan Pathan, the more so because of his rags-to-riches story.

http://us.rediff.com/money/2005/mar/07spec.htm

Sania will perform well in French open: Bhupathi

Ace tennis player Mahesh Bhupathi on Monday expressed confidence that India's teenage tennis sensation Sania Mirza would be at her best in the forthcoming French open tournament inspite of her injury.

"Her's is a minor injury. I hope she will put in her best performance in the French open," Bhupati told newsmen.

Earlier, Bhupathi called on West Bengal Urban Development Minister Ashok Bhattacharjee at the state secretariat to discuss preparations of the Sunfeast Kolkata Open tennis tournament to be held in September.

Bhupathi, who discussed security arrangements with Bhattacharya, expressed satisfaction at the progress of renovation of the Netaji Indoor Stadium here where the tournament will be played.

India's former Davis Cup non-playing captain Joydeep Mukherjea, who accompanied Bhupathi, said the tournament, approved by the Women's Tennis Association, would see in action 'two or three' top 20 players, besides Sania.

"We have not finalised the lists of participants yet. It will be done by mid-July. But we are expecting two or three players from the top 20. Besides, Sania will also participate," Bhupathi said.

Sania Mirza's father plans book on daughter

Presently busy accompanying Sania Mirza on tournaments in and out of the country, Imran Mirza plans to pen a book on his celebrity daughter whenever he gets the time.

Imran, who was here along with his daughter to cheer India in the Fed Cup tennis tournament, said, ''I have this idea of penning a book on her for she has undergone so many things and I would like to pass it on to others which may prove beneficial for them.''

''But at present I’m too busy accompanying her to the tours and it may happen so that I may come out with it only after her retirement.

But the idea is definitely there,'' he told .

Recalling it was swimming which Sania was initially good at, Imran recalled she chanced upon tennis.

''There is so much about her life that other people would like to know and a book on her would best serve that purpose,'' he said.

Tennis player Sania Mirza with her father Imran after a press conference at Press club of India in New Delhi on Saturday 23-02-2005 

Sania to undergo scan before hitting the court

Sania, who is working with Indian cricket team physio John Gloster, said she wanted to be completely fit before returning.

Sania Mirza, India’s teenaged tennis ace, will undergo a bone scan on April 30, which will determine when she returns to competitive tennis following a six-week break due to an ankle injury. The Hyderabadi, 18, ranked 73 in the world, is hopeful of getting a tournament in before the French Open, which will perforce be the focus of her attention.

“My target for now is to win a round in the French Open,” she said. “After I reached the third round of the Australian Open, there have been a lot of expectations. People are now expecting me to reach semifinals and win tournaments. That is not possible every time but I do appreciate those expectations and I am trying my best to live up to them.

“I am happy to be coming back from an injury and playing on clay despite hardcourts being my favourite surface,” she said, “because clay is easier on the body.”Sania, who is presently working with the physio of the Indian cricket team John Gloster in New Delhi, where she is also cheering the Indian team from the sidelines in the Fed Cup Asia-Oceania Group I competition, said, “There was a lot of pressure on me to play the tournament but doctors told me that the only way I can beat this is by rest. I rather miss one Fed Cup than play it this year and then miss it for a long time. I was really looking forward to playing the Fed Cup this year with Shikha (Uberoi) also coming in, but that couldn’t happen.”

Sania, who has been working with Bob Brett for sometime now, is still on the look out for a full-time coach. “We have short-listed a few people,” she said. “Mahesh Bhupathi is looking at that. The important thing is that I need to have a good rapport with the coach. He can be the best in the world but if we are not comfortable working together, it doesn’t help.”

The glamour girl of Indian sport, who has captured a fair deal of the corporate market with her face endorsing everything from jewellry to cycles, reiterated, “I am a tennis player first and foremost, and the day I feel that the endorsements are coming in the way of my tennis, I will stop it immediately. My goal is to break into the world’s top-25 in the next two years and I won’t let other things get in the way of that.”

Sania looks for first round win at Roland Garros

Apprehensive that her recurring ankle injury could land her on the surgery table, tennis sensation Sania Mirza is taking no chances ahead of next month's French Open where her initial target is to cross the first round hurdle.

With the tennis extravaganza at the Roland Garros set to begin on May 23, the teenager said she had not set any big goals for the Grand Slam event and was rather looking to cross the first round.

"I will try my best. I don't think that I will win the championship. My priority is to win the first round. There is a lot of expectations, and pressure too," Sania, who won her first WTA title in Hyderabad two months back, told reporters here today.

"The pressure was there in Hyderabad Open too. I got entry into the championship in the last minute, but the expectations were high and I am glad I lived up to those expectations winning my first WTA title in my home town," she said.

The 73rd ranked teenager from Hyderabad, who got a direct entry into the clay courts of French Open, is now nursing a "recurring" ankle injury and is going to get it examined on April 30.

"On April 30, there is a scan. The only option before me is rest. Otherwise, doctors have said that the injury will worsen leading to surgery which I don't want to happen," she said.

Sania said the injury was due to the training she got in her childhood.

When asked whether she was comfortable playing in clay courts, the surface used in the French Open, Sania said "I prefer hard courts. I am not a baseline player. Clay courts are not my favourite." On yesterday's 3-0 defeat of the Indian girls in the Fed Cup after some good tennis earlier in the week, Sania said India lost to China who fielded their best team.

"We had not lost to a meeker side, neither we played meekly. We played well," Sania, who was disappointed at not being able to play in the championship, said.

Though she had been flooded with offers from companies to endorse their products, Sania said, "I do not want to be known as a model, I want to live as a tennis player and no one else.

"Whenever any endorsement deal comes in the way of my tennis career, it will be the end of that deal," she said.

Sania on the lookout for a foreign coach

`I am focussed in improving my ranking' I don't want to be a model. I'm a tennis player and will remain so till the end

LOOKING AHEAD: Sania Mirza who will play in the French Open aims to take it one step at a time.

NEW DELHI: Teen tennis sensation Sania Mirza, on Saturday, said she was in the process of hiring a foreign coach and had shortlisted a few for the job.

``We have shortlisted a few names. And we will decide one from the list,'' Sania told reporters without divulging the names. The 18-year-old said the most important thing while having a coach was that she must get along well with the person.

``There is no point if the coach and player do not get along well, even if the coach is the best in the world,'' she said.

It was an emphatic ``no'' when Sania was asked whether she would prefer settling down abroad for her tennis training.

``I have no plans to settle down abroad as I will miss certain things I love to do here. May be, for three months or so I will go abroad for training. (But) I won't settle there.''

For the time being she also has no plans to concentrate on doubles. ``I always prefer playing singles and now I am focussed in improving my singles ranking. I don't think that at this point of time I will play more doubles.

``I am working towards getting into the top 25 bracket in singles in the next two years.''

On her favourite tennis player Steffi Graf, she said, ``I love her tennis because of the whole package of her tennis. It is very difficult to point out what I like in her tennis, she was very different.''

Sania said Roger Federer was her favourite male player at the moment, but the list keeps on changing from time to time.

On French Open

Talking about French Open, Sania said, ``Clay is definitely not my favourite surface because that does not suit my style of play because I hit the ball hard. But I'm not that bad in clay either and have won a couple of titles in such surface. Above all, playing in clay won't aggravate my injury.''

She said her immediate aim is to clear the first hurdle in the French Open next month.

Currently 73rd in the latest WTA ranking, Sania said: ``I'm aware of the expectations but just because I made it to the third round in the Australian Open, people should not expect me to win the French Open. I'll be an underdog there and will try to clear the first round.''Dispelling apprehensions that endorsement could prove a distraction and affect her performance, Sania said, ``A player should know the limit. When I realise endorsement is taking toll on my game, I'll stop.''

Also asserting that she did not aspire to be a model, Sani said: "I don't want to be a model. I'm a tennis player and will remain so till the end.''

On her injury

Upset at missing the Fed Cup owing to the ankle injury, Sania said, ``I was looking forward to it. Shikha (Uberoi) was here and we could have been a great team. Though they lost to China, all the players tried their best and China was here with their best team.''

``Playing this time would have been a risk. Doctors have advised me rest; otherwise the injury can become chronic. Many more Fed Cups will follow,'' she said.

Sania's Career at a glance

First-ever Indian girl to win a Grand Slam, in the girls' doubles event at Wimbledon in 2003 Turned pro in 2003 at the age of 17 Won women's doubles at Hyderabad Open in 2004 to become first Indian woman to capture a WTA Tour crown Reached nine singles finals on the 2004 ITF Circuit, winning six titles. Reached six doubles finals on the 2004 ITF Circuit, winning four titles Broke into the top 200 of the WTA Tour in on October 25, 2004 with a ranking of 193 Grand Slam debut at Australian Open 2005 as wild-card and reached third round, first-ever Indian woman to do so Registers her 100th career victory at the Hyderabad Open 2005. Wins the Hyderabad Open 2005, become first Indian woman to capture a Tour singles title Broke into the top 100 of the WTA Tour in Feb 14, 2005, ranked 99 Defeated US Open champion and no. 4 seed Svetlana Kuznetsova in straight sets at Dubai Open 2005 Climbed to no. 77 in the WTA Tour rankings on March 7, 2005

Cricket physio checks Sania's injury

Tennis sensation Sania Mirza figures in the main draw of next month's French Open in Paris while Indian cricket physio John Gloster had a look at the ankle injury of the star player who opted out of the ongoing Fed Cup at New Delhi.

"Sania got the entry into the main draw by virtue of her ranking (73) and she will be playing it, but fitness is top on her priority list", Sania's father Imran Mirza said in Hyderabad on Friday.

"She will decide on the future course of action including rest, play, therapy [if prescribed] after the final report on her injury comes in", he said.

When asked about the ankle injury, Mirza said Sania is making good progress and that Gloster too had a look at the injury and her medical reports.

"Gloster said he will be giving his advise only after the reassessment tests are done after the prescribed period of rest of 12 days at the Apollo hospital", Mirza said, adding that Sania would then start her preparations for the French Open commencing on May 23.

Sania accepts French Open invite

India's tennis ace Sania Mirza has received an invitation for the French Open next month and will prepare for the Grand Slam event under well-known coach Bob Brett, her father says.

"Sania has already received an invite to play in this year's French Open singles, which we have accepted," Imran Mirza said.

Mirza further asserted that Sania's doctor, BN Reddy, had insisted on about 10-12 days of rest to her ankle before she could start training again.

Not in action
he 18-year-old Hyderabadi sensation has not played competitive tennis after her first round exit of the Nasdaq-100 Open in Miami, Florida, last month.

"The doctor has advised 10-12 days' rest, after which he will look at her ankle again. Depending on what he says, Sania can begin her training at the start of next month," Mirza said.

To join Bob Brett Academy

If all goes according to plan, Mirza felt she should be hitting balls on court for a few days before she leave for San Remo in Italy to train at the Bob Brett Academy.

"Sania has not visited Bob's academy for the past eight-nine months and that is a long period. We will have to match their schedules and hope that he would be able to accommodate her next month," Mirza said.

Sania had first visited the Australian's academy late in 2003 on the recommendation of India's doubles specialist Mahesh Bhupathi, whose sports management group — Globosport — manages her career.

"She will have to be perfectly fit before she can train with Bob as the training will be extremely intense. So she is hoping that she will receive the all clear from her doctor soon," he said.

Sania should aim to be a top-20 player: Pollard

India's fast rising tennis star Sania Mirza's primary goal should be to be among the top-20 players in the world, a top Australian Open Grand Slam official has said.

"It is hard to tell the upper limits of a player's potential but in tennis the objective is to be in the top 20. To be there means a major player in the world and capable of winning lot of tournaments, get seeding for the Grand Slams besides lot of money. I don't see any reason why she (Sania) can't be there," Geoff Pollard, President of Tennis Australia, told PTI.

Sania Mirza to act in a bollywood film !!!!!

Sania Mirza will star opposite Akshay Kumar in Prem Game, produced by NRI Dennis Dhawan.

Sania's injured ankle fine: Medical report

Tennis ace Sania Mirza's injured ankle has healed according to a medial report and it will be reviewed shortly, says Indian women Fed Cup team's non-playing captain Enrico Piperno.

"The MRI scan of the ankle has showed that the injury has healed completely, but her doctor has asked that it will be reviewed again in about 10-12 days to ensure that there is no recurrence," Piperno said.

The 18-year-old sensation, who is sitting out of the ongoing Fed Cup Asia-Oceania Group I matches here, would be hoping for a quick recovery to prepare for the French Open next month.

Sania has already received, and accepted, an invitation to play in the singles of the Grand Slam event.

Sania had to give her ankle a break to allow the injury to heal completely, but constant tournament appearances after her Australian Open third-round exit in January did not permit that.

Sania Mirza felicitated by FICCI

New Delhi:It was a unique gathering of women achievers from diverse fields, including veteran actress Zohra Sehgal, super cop Kiran Bedi, beauty diva Shahnaz Husain, TV journalist Barkha Dutt and tennis star Sania Mirza, as they were felicitated for being 'women leaders'.

The occasion was the 21st Annual Session of FICCI Ladies Organisation (FLO), where 'women leaders' were felicitated by Chief Minister Shiela Dikshit here on Wednesday.

"What really this room brings out is that so many eminent women are living in Delhi," the Chief Minister said addressing the function.

"I feel honoured honouring each one of you. Women are the best things that have happended to this world," the Chief Minister said.

Among the women who were honoured on the occasion were painter Anjolie Ela Menon, the first-ever woman sarod player Sharan Rani, beauty and fitness expert Vandana Luthra, journalists Mrinal Pande, politician, social activist Jaya Jaitley and fashion designer Ritu Kumar.

The list also included kathak danseuse Uma Sharma, jewellery designer Asha Kamal Modi, educationist Shyama Chona, architect and designer Sunita Kohli, cardiologist S Padmavati and lawyer Indira Jaisingh.

"The women whom we are felicitating are women made of special steel. They are women who have achieved national and international recognition and represent the modern face of Indian womanhood," outgoing FLO President Namita Gautam said on the occasion.

Sania Mirza at a press meet in New Delhi after she was announced as the Brand Ambassador of Italian sports gear March 6-2005. 

Sania's ACE

The newly anointed 'Superstar' has a confession. "Excuse me, I'm no no path-breaker, youth icon, superstar... thank you. It's the media that labels people. Yes, it feels great to have brought women's tennis into the limelight. In India, you're a successful sportsperson only if you're a cricketer... but hello, I'm not. Neither is Narain Karthikeyan. So, it's an achievement getting recognition for my sport," says Sania Mirza under the April sun as it burnishes hard on Centre Court, RK Khanna Tennis Stadium.

Despite her plain-speak, her life has been quite opulent these past four months. Number crunchers, please note. Same time last year, when the Fed Cup was on, she was ranked in the 300s. In January 2005, she was No 168. And then came the Australian Open. "Not every Indian girl can dream of playing against Serena Williams. It excites people to see an Indian girl play at that level. It's been the greatest four months of my life. There comes a time in every player's life when she makes her BIG breakthrough... that was it for me. I wasn't doing anything different but everything fell in place, everything clicked."

So much so, Sania pushed herself to the max. Probably beyond it. "Being on a winning streak, I wanted to keep on going. Australia happened, Hyderabad happened, Dubai happened. I pushed my limits. I've been on three painkillers a day for the past three months. I was in plaster in Dubai when I beat US Open champ Svetlana Kuznetsova." That was fantasy. Cut to reality. There's excessive fluid in both her ankles, the oedema in the left one is yet to subside. "After the recent Miami event, doctors told me the left ankle could need an operation. I was kinda peaking and now this injury comes up. It's disappointing."

Still, that hasn't stopped one more public ride on the roller-coaster that is Sania's life. Will she or won't she play the Fed Cup? "Just like I stretched myself, people want me to really stretch it and play. Indians are never satisfied with what they have... they want more. The final decision on my participation lies with my doctor, BN Reddy."

No self-anointed saint, this girl-woman (she's 18) lives life on her own terms. "Sania's librarian glasses, earrings, T-shirts, jeans... hey, I'm just being myself. I would wear the same stuff, do the same things even if I wasn't a tennis player. Nobody would have noticed this if I wasn't famous."

Blame it on the 'famous' tag... Miss Mirza has been anointed the new Midas. But if she's pleased, she isn't showing it. "Endorsements? Get this clear: I'm not running after ad deals. I've assigned 25 days a year for ads and I'd rather wrap up my commitments during this time off so that I can focus on my game once I get back to playing." That's that. This -- the Next Level -- is this. "Obviously, I want to move up to the next level... break into the top 50 by this year and, ultimately, into the top 10. The difference between a top 10 player and the rest is part physical, part mental. If you have the legs, shoulder strength, you'll be running hard and firing aces deep into the third set. Look at Serena... see her and you feel: what chance do I have, she's going to outhit me anyway. But the top players are mentally tough too... they play the big points better. " They don't teach you all this Harvard Business School. So Sania's learnt her stuff from "Steffi Graff, my idol; Roger Federer; and Serena, the toughest player going."

Once upon a time, she was the proverbial outsider. Just a fairytale opening chapter later, she's the quintessential achiever. "Tennis still remains my No 1 priority. I'm not being distracted -- neither by my recent success nor by the fame that comes with it." Finally, the come-on line. "Life has changed, but I haven't. I'm still the same." Tennis might grow smaller, and one day in the very distant future, so might her instant nirvana of today. But Sania Mirza will always be BIG. She's made that breakthrough, remember?

Sania out of Fed Cup tennis tie against Singapore

Sports News, New Delhi,Injured Sania Mirza has been ruled out for India's opening match against Singapore in the women's tennis Fed Cup Asia-Oceania Group I here Wednesday.

"Sania will be back tomorrow (Wednesday) from Hyderabad and depending on what her doctor says, she will play other matches," non-playing captain Enrico Piperno said Tuesday.

"She will not play tomorrow as I don't want to risk her against Singapore," Piperno told reporters during the team's evening practice session.

Piperno had said Tuesday morning he would decide on the final team composition only an hour before the start of play after conferring with Sania on her ankle injury.

He said Ankita Bhambri had recovered from her foot injury sustained during an International Tennis Federation (ITF) tournament in Mumbai this month, and would play Wednesday.

"Ankita's foot is now perfectly all right, so she might get a chance to play. Shikha Uberoi will definitely be playing one of the singles matches," he said.

India has been clubbed with China, Singapore and Kazakhstan in Pool A of Group I, while Pool B comprises Australia, South Korea, Chinese Taipei and New Zealand.

The winner of the two pools will progress to the World Group playoff in July.

India's second match is against Kazakhstan Thursday and they play China, the top-ranked team in the pool, Friday.

The other matches in Pool A will see Kazakhstan take on China, while in Pool B, Australia play New Zealand and Korea play Chinese Taipei.

Sania has for some time been carrying an ankle injury that has stubbornly refused to heal completely, hampering her performance at the Nasdaq-100 Open in Florida.

Piperno said winning the Group I stage of the Asia-Oceania Fed Cup against top teams like China and Australia would be tough even with a fully fit Sania. The Indian team had a practice session at the Delhi Lawn Tennis Association (DLTA) courts Tuesday morning and the players returned in the evening for another session.

"The sessions have been going on fine and the team is preparing well. I think that our chances against Singapore are very bright," Piperno said.

He had earlier said that since the tough match-up against China was later in the week, he was hoping Sania stood a better chance of recovering and featuring in the crucial clash.

Uberoi was hopeful Sania's absence would not affect the team. "Sania's absence will not affect us and we have just as good a chance. But it is unfortunate that she's not fit," she said.

"I wish she plays, but I would rather that she doesn't if she's not there yet and takes care of her career and body."

Four other teams - the Philippines, Syria, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan - will compete in Group II simultaneously, with the winner and runner-up progressing to Group I for next year's Fed Cup Asia-Oceania tournament.

In a Group II tie, Syria beat Turkmenistan 2-1. In the second match, Uzbekistan took an unbeatable 2-0 lead against the Philippines ahead of the doubles encounter, which is now of academic interest.

http://www.keralanext.com/news/?id=184402

India and China in same group for FED cup, Sania in team

NEW DELHI: The initial reaction was of dread when the Delhi Chief Minister, Sheila Dikshit, drew India's name alongside the top-seeded China in Pool A of the Fed Cup Asia-Oceania tennis tournament to be played at the DLTA Complex here from Tuesday. But the smiles on the Indian faces returned once they found that Singapore and Kazakhstan with unranked players were also pooled along with them.

Even before she had been given the doctors' clearance or been able to pull her weight on court, the one thought figuring on top of Sania Mirza's mind was to get a seeding for the team with her impressive ranking. In the event, being seeded third proved a big advantage as the other group was eventually packed with stronger teams like Korea, Chinese Taipei and New Zealand along with the second-seeded Australia.

Rankings don't matter

As the Australian captain John Alexander stressed, the rankings do not really matter in the team competition, and every team must be fancying its chance to take the lone spot for the world group play-off to be played in July.

Actually, the zone had two teams making it to the play-off till last year but the fact that three teams from the zone — Indonesia, Thailand and Japan — already figure in the world group meant that the quota was reduced to one this time.

"I am absolutely thrilled with the draw. Since only one team makes it to the play-off, you have to beat the top two teams. It was a question of playing China on Friday or Saturday. I hope Sania is ready. If she is there, anything is possible," said the Indian team captain, Enrico Piperno.

It may not look an ideal preparation to tackle a strong team like China that has two top-100 players apart from the Olympic doubles champions, after playing Singapore and Kazakhstan, but the Indian captain said that it was an ideal situation and would amply serve the team's cause.

"It is all about building your confidence. If we can win the first two matches convincingly, the team will gain a lot of confidence. I think it is all in our favour," said Piperno, even as he agreed that pool `B' was quite tough.

Chance for Shikha

Though the focus may be on whether Sania would play or not after she meets her doctor in Hyderabad on Tuesday, this event may serve as a big stepping-stone to boost the career of the US-based Shikha Uberoi. She had waited for quite some time to represent India, and has been diligently pushing her ranking close to the top-100.

Shikha may have played top class tennis around the world, and impressed the tennis fraternity by qualifying for the US Open last year and teasing Venus Williams in a second round encounter, but she will be accepted more by the Indian fans only if she makes an impact in a tournament like the Fed Cup.

The good thing is that Shikha has been working hard along with the others and may be just ready to play her part to perfection.

Piperno said that he had made up his mind about the doubles combination and was only waiting for Sania's availability to confirm his singles slots.

Ankita Bhambri's foot injury is a cause for concern though the team has the advantage of having Rushmi Chakravarthi playing close to her potential, as she showed in making the singles and doubles final of the $25,000 Challenger last week in Mumbai.

The aspirations of making it to the next stage apart, India can stay safe in Group `I' itself if it beats Singapore and Kazakhstan.

The bottom two teams in the two pools play off for the relegation.

The top two teams from Group `II', from among Philippines, Syria, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan will make it to Group `I' for next year.

The opportunity of seeing Olympic gold medallists Ting Li and Tian Tian Sun in action apart, it would have been a lively fare for the local fans, had Australia been able to convince its top player, world No. 9 Alicia Molik to come and play here.

"Alicia Molik opted to play the WTA tour as she believes that she has a chance of becoming world No.1. We looked at it realistically, and we are supporting her. She has promised to join the team for the next game," said Alexander.

The Aussie captain said that he himself was looking forward to the tie between host India and China, as he termed both countries as emerging forces in women's tennis.

Ms. Dikshit, in her address, reiterated the government's stand to support sports and talented players, especially women, in building up the tempo for the Commonwealth Games to be staged in Delhi in 2010.

The tournament will kick off with Group `II' matches on Tuesday. The matches are scheduled to be played from 3.30 p.m. every day and thus heat may not be that strong a factor affecting the chances of the teams.

The Group `I' matches will start on Wednesday with India meeting Singapore. It plays Kazakhstan on Thursday before locking horns with China on Friday.

The top teams from the two pools will meet in the final on Saturday and the winner will make it to the world group `play-off'.

Group `I':

Pool-A: China, India, Singapore and Kazakhstan.

Pool-B: Australia, Korea, Chinese Taipei and New Zealand.

Group `II': Philippines, Syria, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

Sania 30% closer to playing in Fed Cup

If you wanted to know whether Sania Mirza has attained superstar status or not, the answer came here on Sunday.

The tennis teen sensation, now battling an ankle injury, was among those who spent a few hours at the Kotla to watch the India-Pakistan ODI but she didn’t have to go through security hassles.

A dozen securitymen escorted Sania to Kotla from her hotel in the morning.

She was there for some time before returning to hotel. Well, security is nothing new for Sania as even in Hyderabad she moves around with escorts because of the fear of getting mobbed in public places after her triumph in the Hyderabad Open this February.

However, the rest of the Indian Fed Cup team members were busy slogging it out at the DLTA for the Asia-Oceania ties which begins on Tuesday.

Sania did meet team captain Enrico Piperno, but there’s no word as yet on playing next week.

“The pain is less and I am able to walk. I will be consulting the doctor (BN Reddy) in Hyderabad on April 19 and he will then decide on the next course of action,” said Sania.

So that means after the draw ceremony on Monday, Sania will be out of town and then return.

“I want to be part of the team even if I am not playing,” said Sania.

But all the same she has not ruled out the possibility of playing towards the end of next week if she gets the nod from the doctor.

“It will all get clear only on Tuesday after I see the doctor. I do think I have made around 30 per cent progress,” she said.

Dad Imran Mirza was quick to add that Sania has not touched a tennis racquet now in almost four weeks.

“She still has oedema (swelling) in the left ankle and was put on a cast. It is off now, but Dr Reddy has to see it again. If she continues playing without it (ankle) being fully treated, it can become worse is the advice the doctor gave us,” said Imran.

Sania will be at the draw ceremony on Monday evening. It’s a Catch-22 situation for non-playing Enrico Piperno and the AITA.

It is unlikely that they will make a replacement in the squad, more so since the star herself wants to be there with the team.

Maybe, this time Delhi tennis lovers will just get to see Sania on the sidelines cheering her teammates.

Tennis Is My First Priority

KEYED UP

'Tennis Is My First Priority'

Battling an ankle injury, the teen sensation shoots down remarks on her spending more time shooting for ad-films, 'What endorsements, I am not running for it. I know people have started talking ... but people close to me know that I will give anything to play for my country.'

Sania scales to career-best world ranking of 73

Sania Mirza has moved up two spots in the latest WTA tennis rankings.

The 18-year-old is now ranked 73 in the world and is a career best for her.

Sania, the only Indian woman to have won a WTA title when she lifted the Hyderabad Open earlier this year, was placed 75th in the previous rankings.

The teenage player has been out of action for the last four weeks because of an ankle injury.

Sania in Simbhu film?

Simbhu’s latest obsession is to sign Sania Mirza for a film directed by him. He is to act in AC directed by S J Suryah’s film apart from Vallavan in which Kadhal Sandhya, Nayanthara and Reema Sen are the heroines.

Currently he is busy completing Thoti Jaya. All this projects will take atleast two years to finish. In the meanwhile he heard reports of Telugu and Hindi producers queuing up at Sania Mirza’s house to book her for films.

The golden girl of Tennis has turned down the offers but accepted offers to endorse products and attend fashion shows.Seeing this Simbhu through an emissary met Sania and told her that he was willing to wait till she finishes her tennis circuit matches.

He has told her of a subject which is said to be tailor made for her. Sania has given it a serious thought says Simbhu’s friends. Sania has agreed to feature in an advt film for a jewellery shop along with Mohanlal.

Sania optimistic

NEW DELHI: She may be forced to cool her heel on the sidelines, but Sania Mirza's heart beats for the country as hard as any other sports person in the country.

The 18-year-old Sania was at the practice session on Sunday evening, watching her teammates sweat it out in preparation for the Asia-Oceania Group `I' Fed Cup competition, after having watched the one-day cricket match at the Ferozeshah Kotla in the morning.

The Hyderabad lass expressed her disappointment about not being able to take the court and get ready for a competition that she had grown to like so much.

"I am waiting for the clearance from the doctor. Hopefully you will see me with the racquet soon,'' said Sania. She will be going to Hyderabad on April 19 for medical advice and return to Delhi the following day.

"It is really unfortunate. I was looking forward to playing the Fed Cup. Am hopeful yet,'' said Sania, who was particularly keen to make a forceful campaign with the US-based Shikha Uberoi in this edition.

"Shikha is a bonus to our team. Me and Shikha have a great rapport. We could make a very good doubles team, and there would have been less pressure on me. '' said Sania.

Frustrating injuries

She conceded that it was frustrating to face ankle injuries one after the other when she was playing the best tennis of her career.

"People don't know that I have been playing by taking three pain-killers every day for three months. I am lucky that there were no side effects. When you are winning, you want to continue. Australia happened. I was taking a break and returning. After the tournament in Miami we did the MRI and a bone scan. The doctors said that it didn't look bad initially. After the reports they said that there was excess fluid in the left ankle and a little on the right ankle as well that I had twisted in Hyderabad and Dubai. They advised me rest,'' said Sania.

She brushed aside the argument that it was projecting a wrong image that she was busy with her endorsements when she was supposed to be resting.

Sweet success

Sania, who has a 10-4 record for the season in singles in the big league that has seen her being catapulted to No.75 in the world, said that she was overwhelmed by the tremendous spell of success. Though the match against the eventual Australian Open champion Serena Williams made the world take note of her, the best was beating the US Open champion and world No.7 Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-4, 6-2 after the Russian lady had held a gamepoint to go up 5-0 in the first set at the Dubai Open when Sania had hurt her ankle and was in tears.

"The world has changed. There was a wave after I won the Wimbledon junior doubles, but it sort of died down. This time it has stayed on, and it has taught me a lot. Am very happy and thankful to God,'' said Sania.

Captain Enrico Piperno had a brief chat with Sania and goaded her to give it a shot.

"We are happy to have a great captain in Rico. He wants the best team and the best from me,'' said Sania, who confessed her liking for cricket that saw her reach the Kotla at 7.30 this morning and watch half of the match.

Rushmi Chakravarthi also joined the team after her final appearance in singles and doubles of the $25,000 Challenger in Mumbai. She took it easy and relaxed on the sidelines along with Sania.

"It will be great if we can make it to the world group play-off. Australia is beatable and China is strong,'' Rushmi said.

In search of a Sania at home

Women from army families display crafts in an embroidery competition at Dipatoli Cantonment. Picture by Hardeep Singh

I nspired by the success of Hyderabad girl Sania Mirza, the army has decided to nurture tennis talent at Dipatoli Cantonment. The Sania Mirza Tennis Club was recently inaugurated at the Cockerel Officers’ Institute, Dipatoli Cantonment, by Renu Bharadwaj. A coach from the NIS has been roped in to train children and other officials willing to take up the sport seriously. The club has two courts, a clay and a cement one.

Kid power

Adults can stay out. Young scribes in the making will come out with a magazine of their own on April 22. Called CockerelKidz, it will give army children a platform for their writing skills. The magazine will come out on a monthly basis and will have articles on environment, sports and other areas of interest to children. The magazine is being brought out by a group of 10 children, who are being briefed regularly by president of the Cockerel Army Wives’ Welfare Association (AWWA) Renu Bharadwaj.

Football crown

The Assam Battalion won the 23rd Infantry Division Inter-Battalion football championships, 2005, held recently at Dipatoli Cantonment. At the end of the final, the scoreline read 4-2 in favour of the team from the Northeast. The teams could not score any goals in the scheduled time or the extra time. Finally in the penalty shootout, the Assam team proved better of their counterparts. Brigadier Ghungesh-Sena Medal was the chief guest on the occasion.

Cooking lessons

The month-long Cockerel Khukri cadre, organised at Dipatoli Cantonment, came to an end last week. Special cooks of the army were trained in Continental, Chinese and other exotic cuisine at the camp. President of the Cockerel Army Wives’ Welfare Association (AWWA) Renu Bharadwaj Renu Bharadwaj, a great cook herself, took part in the session almost everyday and personally trained the cooks. Around 30-odd cooks took part in the event.

Embroidery

The army recently organised an embroidery competition, which saw 60 women from army families take part. President of the Cockerel Army Wives’ Welfare Association (AWWA) Renu Bharadwaj gave away prizes to 14 winners. The main aim behind the event was to encourage army women to take up embroidery in a big way.

Health tips

A two-day programme was organised by the 23rd Infantry division on the occasion of World Health Day and held both at Namkum and Dipatoli Cantonments. Doctors and gynaecologists deliberated on various health aspects. In one such discussion held at Military hospital, Namkum, Lt. Col S.N. Bhattacharjee, a gynaecologist, spoke to delegates on aspects of gynaecological disorders. Major V.V. Tiwari also discussed various health problems on the occasion. Major General Dalip Bharadwaj was the chief guest on the occasion.

Tennis remains my prime goal: Sania Mirza

Sania Mirza on Sunday asserted that tennis still remained her number one priority and that she was not being distracted by her recent success and the new found fame that has come along with it.

Sania, whose participation in the Fed Cup team competition next week here has been rendered doubtful due to an ankle injury, said playing for the country was something she had always looked forward to, but had to keep in mind the long term goals.

"I would rather play the Fed Cup next five years instead of playing now and mess up my career. I know that people have started talking ... but I and the people close to me know that I will give anything to play for my country," the 18-year-old Hyderabadi said.

India are to play in the Group I tie of the Asia Oceania zonal qualifyiers here from Apr 18 to 23, with the top team getting to play the World Group II play-offs.

Sania dismissed suggestions that endorsements that have come her way since the Australian Open exploits have affected her focus.

"What endorsements, I am not running for it, right. Taking rest does not mean I have to be on bed," she said at comments that she was spending time away from tennis in doing ad shoots.

"I have allotted only 25 days in the year for commercials and it is as well I complete my commitments during this off-time so that I can concentrate on game when I start playing," she said.

Talking about the injury in the left ankle, which she picked up in a USD 50,000 event in December last year, Sania said the winning run had made her push the limits.

Tennis sensation Sania Mirza, Mollywood superstar Mohan Lal promote Malabar Gold

It was a meet between tennis and Mollywood as tennis sensation Sania Mirza and Kerala super actor Mohan Lal as they came together to launch the eighth retail outlet and the first one outside Kerala, in Bangalore for Malabar Jewels and Diamonds Ltd,. Malabar has plans to open outlets in Mangalore and Hubli in Karnataka, Hyderabad in Andhra Pradesh and Chennai in Tamil Nadu, informed Malabar Jewels and Diamonds LTD MD (Bangalore) Asher. Lal had been endorsing the Malabar gold chain as brand ambassador and now Mirza joins him in the venture. A spate of TV ads for Malabar Gold was unleashed earlier across all channels in Kerala in the past and the media is now ready to shoot new ads with Mirza. The new ad campaign across all media forms – print, outdoor, radio and TV will showcase the brand ambassadors. Each Malabar outlets is equipped with German made ‘Karat Analyzer’ for customers to verify the quality of the gold they buy or sell. They also retail diamond jewellery with ‘F’ grade diamonds that come with a certificate of authenticity and colour purity and every diamond jewellery comes with a 100 per cent buyback guarantee. Malabar are also a PGI (Platinum Guild International) authorised retail store, besides which they also retail premium watch brands like Omega, Longines, Rado and Tissot.

Sania option still open

Sania’s availability depends on doctor’s verdict

New Delhi: The Indian Fed Cup team coach Enrico Piperno is keeping his fingers crossed over the possibility of Sania Mirza’s availability and said they would wait for the doctor’s verdict before taking any decision on the team composition.

“I am waiting for the doctor's report. I cannot make a comment on team composition at the moment,” Piperno told reporters on the sidelines of the team’s first practice session ahead of their Fed Cup Asia-Oceania group I qualifying campaign next week.

American-born Sikha Uberoi and Ankita Bhambri slugged it out for about two hours with Poonam Reddy and Sanaa Bhambri giving them company.

While Sania is expected to reach here by the weekend and would consult the doctors before deciding whether she would play in the Fed Cup, Rushmi Chakravarthy is playing in the $25,000 ITF event in Mumbai.

Indian hopes rest a lot on Sania, who has been carrying an ankle injury since the Australian Open.

“Sania is very much a part of the team. Sania and Shikha are the key players for India,” Piperno said.

The Hyderabad star, who last played in a WTA tournament in Florida in March, has not picked up the racket in the last three weeks and has been advised rest till she gets fully fit.

Doctors have now detected some fluid accumulation in her left ankle. It was first found in US by the tournament doctor in Miami and was later confirmed by experts in Hyderabad.

Sania 'ankled out' for weeks

NEW DELHI: Sania Mirza's dream run has finally been halted not by an experienced pro but by her own 'twisty' ankles and if she's isn't careful, she may just go the Martina Hingis way.

"Her ankles have not healed properly. She's suffering from a condition called oedema. The doctors have found fluid in both her ankles, more so in her left ankle, which is in plaster," Sania's dad Imran Mirza told TOI on Monday.

The doctors in Hyderabad have performed quite a few intricate tests including bone density tests but the only line of treatment prescribed is rest, he added.

Sania's problems which began in Florida in December 2004 have reached a stage where doctors have now warned her of a career-ending injury if she continues to push her shaky ankles.

The Mirzas agreed that it's the same problem that has worsened over a period of time. "The problem is lack of rest. I have been playing without giving it enough time to heal. But I will be reassessing it on April 17 in Hyderabad", Sania, who was in Mumbai shooting for a commercial, said.

All this means Sania will be out for six to eight weeks, effectively putting her out of the Fed Cup in New Delhi next week as also the French Open.

Sania, though, is expected to be in New Delhi for the entire duration of the Fed Cup and be a part of the team as it will help India get a seeding because of her high ranking.

"She is very disappointed as she was looking forward to playing along with Shikha Uberoi but we don't want the injury to go worse," her father said.

Sania Mirza unlikely to play in Fed Cup

Teen star Sania Mirza is unlikely to play in the Fed Cup women's tennis tournament beginning here next week as the World No. 75 is still recuperating from an ankle injury.

The Hyderabad star, who last played in a WTA tournament in Florida in March, will definitely travel to Delhi where she will consult doctors and get their advice before taking a final decision.

Sania, who has not taken the racket for the last three weeks since her first round defeat in Florida, has been advised rest by doctors till she gets fully fit.

Doctors have now detected some fluid accumulation in her left ankle. It was first found in USA by the tournament doctor in Miami and was later confirmed by experts in Hyderabad.

"I have my doubts but she is definitely coming to Delhi and if fit she will play. It all depends on the doctors' advice," her father Imran Mirza told PTI over phone from Hyderabad.

Sania might have a check up in the capital on April 17 to assess her fitness before the start of the tournament.

India is in Group 1 of the Asia Oceania Fed Cup along with seven other nations. The top two teams from the group will advance to the play-off round to fight for a place in the World Group. Group I matches are scheduled to begin on April 20.

What seemed like a minor injury which Sania first suffered during practice in Australia two weeks before the start of the year's first Grand Slam in January continued to trouble her all through as he repeatedly hurt the ankle while playing in the circuit.

Sania, who got a wild card to play in the Australian Open, carried on with her injury to win two rounds before losing to eventual winner Serena Williams. Next was the Hyderabad Open which saw Sania winning her first WTA Tour title.

The unbelievable string of victories continued at the Dubai Open where she ousted US Open Champion Svetlena Kuznetsova before bowing out in the next round.

Sania-mania grips UP teenagers

Lucknow; Sania Mirza, the newest teenage icon from the tennis court, has also cast her magical spell on the young girls of Uttar Pradesh with an increasing number taking up the sport.

The teenagers and still younger girls, particularly from the minority community, have taken up tennis in a big way as they are seen thronging the tennis courts in large numbers all over the state including the state capital.

''There is a surprising rise in the number of Muslim trainees in the game in Lucknow and other parts of the state as never seen before,'' National Institute of Sports (NIS) trained coach Anil Kumar said here.

He said at least ten young Muslim girls have enrolled as trainees in Lucknow's K D Singh Babu Stadium, which ''was quite a surprise, though a pleasant one.'' Not only in the big cities like Lucknow, Kanpur, Allahabad, Varanasi and Agra, but the girls in smaller towns are also seen holding tennis rackets, thanks to Sania-mania.

Expecting a significant rise in the number of trainees during the summer season (May-June), the coach said there was no doubt that the sudden interest in the game among the teenage girls was mainly due to the ''Sania-effect.'' For girls, Sania is a big craze, according to the coach.

Seven-year-old Nausreen, who has enrolled for tennis training here, does not know much about the world, but knew much more about Indian tennis queen Sania Mirza. ''I wish to become the next Sania,'' she declared. She is not the only one passionate about the game as there are others like - Janasheen and Rukhshar - who too have the same kind of inclination for their future.

Nausreen's mother Naheed said, ''My daughter's coaching would not stop even after summers as I want to see her grow into a good tennis player. She will continue her training even during schools.'' ''Sania, somehow, carries the hopes of millions of Muslim girls in the country,'' said mother of another Muslim trainee on condition of anonymity.

''I bring my daughter to play tennis here by telling my in-laws that I am taking her for tuition classes,'' she admitted. ''They would certainly come to know about this one day, but by that time the situation will be different.''

Who will end up as MTV Youth Icon?

MTV has introduced a new category for its Youth Icon 2005 - Ubhartha Sitara and Sania Mirza is one of the nominee in that category for her extraordinary performance on the tennis court this year.

The six nominees include heavyweights from fields as diverse as films, sports, politics, fashion, music, business. Every year, millions of young Indians vote for their favorite Youth Icon among a host of news-makers. The number of public votes acquired by each one of the seven nominees will decide the final Youth Icon for 2005.

The nominees include Sonia Gandhi (57), president of the Congress party, Shah Rukh Khan (39), Badsha of Bollywood, Manish Malhotra (34) , the first Indian to win a Filmfare award for Costume Designer (Urmila Matondkar), Irfan Pathan (19),ICC Award winner as emerging player of the year-2004, Azim Premji (59), chairman, Wipro, Sonu Nigam , a popular singer and Sania Mirza.

The nominations have been arrived at after a 10-city study conducted by Indian Market Research Bureau

Voting can be done online by logging onto www.mtvindia.com. Viewers can also sms ICON to 6882 to vote for their choice or call 1250-122(BSNL) or 1250-111-122 (MTNL) Voting has begun from 18 March and continues till 1 May and the winner will be announced on 10 June.

Sania reaches a career high 75 ranking

The only Indian woman with a WTA title under her belt, Sania Mirza, jumped two places to finish on a career-high 75th, according to the latest WTA Singles Rankings.

Placed 77th in the previous rankings, Sania now has 433 rank points, according to information received here on Wednesday.

Coached by Bob Brett, Sania's career prize money is pegged at 129,109 dollars after turning pro in 2003.

Sania created history when she defeated the ninth seed A Bondarenko, to win the Hyderabad Open title earlier this year and broke into top 100 for first time at No 99 on February 14 rankings.

Though she had to withdraw from Bogota the following week due to a sprain in the right ankle, the Hyderabad girl had a dream run at the Dubai Open where she defeated a much higher ranked Jelena Kostanic in the first round and followed it with straight sets upset of fours seed Svetlana Kuznetsova, in the next match before bowing to Jelena Jankovic.

Sprightly and sporty (Metro Plus Hyderabad feature published on Monday, Feb 03, 2003)

Sprightly and sporty

All eyes will be on Sania Mirza when she shares the courts with some of the best names in world tennis. "The WTA Indian Open will be a good exposure for me," says this youngster in conversation with V.V. SUBRAHMANYAM.

Photo: P. V. Sivakumar

CENTRE COURT: Local lass Sania Mirza is one of the major attractions. — Photo: P. V. Sivakumar

THE STAGE is set for the queen-in-waiting of Indian tennis, Sania Mirza, to unravel her high quality game when she engages herself in duels against some of the celebrated names in the first-ever WTA Indian Open championship at Fateh Maidan Tennis Complex (February 3 to 8). In fact, Sania will be partnering Mary Pierce in the doubles event. Yet, to expect something stunning from this 16-year-old girl from Hyderabad can be dubbed as wishful thinking. Well, miracles in sports do happen. But the gifted Sania, who has achieved what no other Indian had by winning the Asian Junior championship recently besides picking bronze, partnering Leander Paes in the Busan Asiad, is not so naive to fancy her chances in this mega event. "I don't think I will be under pressure playing in front of home crowd in the WTA Open. For the simple reason, no one expects me to win,'' she quipped to a query. But, it is an indisputable fact that Sania is surely going to be one of the major attractions despite not achieving stardom in the real sense in the tough and competitive women's tennis world.

In a way, Sania, ranked No.506 in ITF women's circuit and No.30 in juniors grade, feels that the best part of the event is that it gives her lot of exposure. "It will be apparently a big and perfect learning experience for future assignments, '' says the XI Standard student of Nasr School, who is on a dream run with the latest feat being two golds in the 32nd National Games in Hyderabad. Interestingly, she points out that the high percentage of success in recent times is primarily after she joined the Bhupathi-Nike Academy in Bangalore last 2001 January. "Definitely, my backhand improved a lot. There is certainly a need to improve upon my serve. Some brushing up of my ground strokes is on ,'' she analyses. And she is receptive to genuine advice. For instance, she diligently tries to put into her game, the tips from Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi - the serve should go up a little bit and the returns a bit above the net - for better results. That she won four singles and three doubles titles besides entering the doubles quarter-finals of US Junior Open partnering Isha Lakhani is a fair indication that Sania is on a dream run.

Well, not many might be aware of the turbulent phase Sania's parents underwent in the last eight years. "It was a big gamble to put her into tennis. But that was based on our firm belief that she is destined to make waves in the tennis circuit,'' recalls Imran Mirza, the champion youngster's father. "The very fact that we have decided not to encourage our second daughter to be a tennis player despite showing profound interest, is a reflection of how costly the proposition it is. In the case of Sania, we were lucky that most of the times we could manage the financial constraints, thanks to sponsors like GVK Group of Industries, AITA and the SAAP,'' he explains. Just consider this. For a player of Sania's calibre to compete in the world circuit, it costs at least Rs 35 lakhs. So, if people think that mere structural edifices will produce outstanding talent, it may be a misplaced notion.

And she has a dream to chase too. Sania has an intense desire to be ranked among the top 50 in the world and stay there for some time. More importantly, she is aware how difficult it can be to counter the possible winds of change. "I know that I should achieve that goal within the next two years. Beyond that, it will be very difficult,'' says this girl, who is a celebrity of sorts.Longing to meet her cricketing hero, Sachin Tendulkar, she was pleasantly surprised when another Hyderabadi V.V.S Laxman and Tinu Yohanan slipped into the Junior Wimbledon tennis championship to exchange pleasantries and convey best wishes.

Is it time for Sania to hire a foreign coach? "Well, I will basically look for someone who understands me and my game. And, it is not necessarily foreign for the Indian coaches are equally good,'' she says. However, Imran makes a valid point saying: "When the going has been good in recent time, why break the trend? She has been winning most of the events. We will think of the foreign coach option only if there is a slump. No doubt, a foreign coach can take care of a quality training partner quite easily.''

Sania has come a long way since she started competing regularly at the Ace Tennis Academy (Begumpet) tournaments in 1997. Now, though a little bit rusty for not having competed for more than a month and carrying a niggle on the right hand wrist, Sania is the player to watch out in the WTA from the Indian perspective for her class and the disdainful manner in which she disposes of her rivals on her day. The connoisseurs too will definitely have a chance to make an objective assessment of where exactly she stands and a need for her to move up in the echelons of intense, competitive circuit at the highest level.

Holding all the aces SANIA MIRZA: interview with THE WEEK on July 20, 2003

Holding all the aces
SANIA MIRZA: The first Indian woman to win
at Wimbledon, she wants to fly higher

By Lalita Iyer

Sania Mirza is used to winning and used to reporters coming up to ask her questions even though she is only 16 years old. In the dressing room of the Fateh Maidan tennis stadium in Hyderabad during the National Games last December-long before she became the first Indian woman to win a Wimbledon title with her doubles triumph with Alisa Kleybanova in the juniors event-she resisted, out of sheer politeness, from yawning. Instead, she stared fixedly at the opposite wall and answered in a monotone.

You couldn't blame her. Many reporters had already asked the same questions after her singles title win over Manisha Malhotra, a 6-0,6-0 demolition job. But she knew or was tutored that any publicity was oxygen for her career, in terms of sponsorship coming in, and bore the boredom stoically.

Once again, Sania is perhaps enduring the same repetitive questions after her latest triumph that has catapulted her to centre-stage in a country whose sporting cupboard is so bare, that a junior victory in Wimbledon-probably meriting a small item in newspapers in other countries-is hailed with banner headlines.

The Sania success story began one evening in Hyderabad when businessman Imran Mirza and wife Nasima were watching a telecast of a Grand Slam semifinal between Steffi Graf and Conchita Martinez. After Graf demolished Martinez in straight sets, Imran reportedly turned to his wife and said, "How would you like your daughter to play in a Grand Slam event?" Nasima replied that she would give her life to get a chance like that.

Thereafter, Imran gave a tennis racket to Sania, who was around six at that time. And thus began her march to the international arena.

It helped that she has impeccable sporting genes. Ghulam Ahmed, a former Indian cricket captain and state-level tennis player, was her father's uncle. Imran, himself, has played cricket for Mumbai and Hyderabad, and his father played for Middlesex. Asif Iqbal, former Pakistan captain, is a relative. So, it was no surprise that Sania was a natural. She made waves in the Asian circuit, winning 10 International Tennis Federation singles titles and 11 doubles titles. She became the youngest Indian to win an Asian Games bronze medal for the mixed doubles, partnering Leander Paes, in Busan last year. She is also the first Indian girl to win the Asian junior crown.

Watch her play and you sense the confidence, the poise and the agility around the court. She has superb groundstrokes but now and then, she seems to be out of breath. "Physical fitness is my weakness," she tells The Week. "I also need to improve the quality of my serves."

Says Imran: "Sania has a problem with the positioning of her feet. This is a problem with most Indian players, whereas European players have problems with the grip."

Her success has come from sustained application. "I practise six to eight hours a day," she says. "I also do weight training for one and a half hours under the guidance of my coach and the gym trainer."

I feel bad about the sacrifices made by my family.
For the past eleven years it has been hard, says Sania.

Sania is an indigenously produced player, according to her father, because she has been trained only by Indian coaches, especially C.G.K. Bhupathi, father of tennis star Mahesh Bhupathi. She has been training at Bhupathi's tennis academy in Bangalore since January last year.

"She has also learnt by playing with better players," says Imran. "As parents we have educated ourselves about the game. We watch all the games and if you ask foreign coaches politely, they always tell us what is wrong with Sania's game."

Sania is lucky that her family is fully behind her career, which is uncommon in the Indian set-up, with its emphasis on academic exce-llence.

"Our family has sacrificed a lot," says Imran. "Since she is travelling a lot, either my wife or I accompany her. She is comfortable with either of us."

But it is clear that Sania feels that the price is high: "I feel bad about the sacrifices my family has made. For the past 11 years, it has been hard. There is no family life and we miss that. I also do not lead the normal life of a 16-year-old. Little things like this matter a lot. I will try at least to finish my graduation." She passed her tenth class in first class and is now doing her plus two.

It is not easy to be a tennis player. Apart from missing the ordinary pleasures of life, the cost of travelling and participating in competitions is prohibitive. Sania says she needs Rs 40 lakh annually.

"Without sponsorship, there is no way you can have a career in tennis," she says. "I have been very lucky." She has been sponsored by the GVK Group of Industries for the past few years. Following her Wimbledon triumph, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has allotted her a piece of land for a house and announced a cash award of Rs 10 lakh.

Her winning partnership was formed quite by chance. She casually asked Kleybanova a few days before the tournament whether they could pair up. The Russian said yes and they began playing together.

Unseeded, they defeated seeded players in the early rounds and in the final beat Katerina Bohmova of the Czech Republic and Michaela Krajicek of the Netherlands in three sets. It was sweet revenge for Sania who, along with compatriot Sanaa Bhambri, had lost to the pair in the French Open semifinals last month.

After her win, Sania said that she would be concentrating on the singles. But clearly, it is not going to be an easy task.

Most women players, especially from Europe and America, are tall and very strongly built. They have booming serves and powerful groundstrokes. Sania looks fragile in comparison. When asked whether she could match the power play of Venus and Serena Williams, she says, "I am not awestruck. Undoubtedly, we Indians have a distinct disadvantage in that we are not built that way. I will have to work harder to win against them."

Only time will tell whether Sania will one day triumph over Serena. It will be a stunning moment if it happens.
with Shevlin Sebastian