Sania Mirza says cultural bias against sports is easing

Hong Kong; Sania Mirza says an easing of the cultural bias against sports in her home country could lead to a new crop Indian tennis stars.

"They (parents) do want their children to come out and play a sport now and being a doctor or a lawyer is not the only thing that matters," said Mirza, ranked 34th in the world on the sidelines of an exhibition tournament in Hong Kong this week.

"I think right now people are starting to believe that tennis can be a profession, which people didn't believe," the 19-year-old said.

India has produced world class tennis players in the past: 1999 French Open and Wimbledon men's' doubles champions Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi and previously, Vijay Amritraj.

But Mirza is India's first female tennis star and the country has embraced her, with businessmen and health workers alike signing her up to promote their respective causes and products. Her appeal spans the region, with Time Magazine naming her one of Asia's Heroes in 2005.

But Mirza said she was a loner when she first started out in India.