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.''