Leave Sania Mirza alone, says Qatar tennis chief

"SANIA Mirza is a good ambassador for the game and critics should let her “live her own life’, the chief of the Qatar Tennis Federation has said.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Faleh al-Thani was speaking at an informal meeting with journalists ahead of the Total Qatar Open for women beginning on February 27 in Doha.
Sania Mirza

Sheikh Mohammed said all those fanatics in India who publicly criticise the Indian star for her dress sense were missing the point completely about how the teenager has put tennis on a different pedestal.
“It is tremendous how she is inspiring an entire generation of women in India and other parts of Asia,” said the QTF chief.
“She has the same effect on people as Martina Hingis used to have when she burst upon the scene,” he added.
Sheikh Mohammed was of the opinion that Mirza, the first Muslim female in history to ever win a WTA title, would be the star attraction at the Total Qatar Open.
“Insha’llah we hope she at least reaches the final. She is a good ambassador for the game and I am sure tennis will gain from her involvement besides encouraging more women to take up the sport.
“Also she is a very mature person as you can make out from her interviews. She always says sensible things.”
Sheikh Mohammed, under whom Qatar’s involvement in the game has grown considerably, said it would be good for the Qatar Open if she does well in the event.
The QTF has a busy schedule this year with several tournaments lined up.
“We had the ExxonMobil Qatar Open for men in January and the Total Qatar Open next week which are top class events, but we are also preparing for the Second Qatar German Open in Berlin in May and the Hamburg Masters later that month,” said Sheikh Mohammed.
The Berlin tournament, a Tier One event, is completely owned by Qatar, which also has a 20 percent stake in the Hamburg Masters.
“Apart from these major tournaments we also host a senior event besides a number of ITF Futures events keeping us busy throughout the year,” he said.
Sheikh Mohammed said he was thankful to Qatari companies for sponsoring tennis events in a big way.
“The Qatar National Bank, Qatar Airways, Qatargas, RasGas, Qatar Petroleum, Total and ExxonMobil have been our regular supporters and we are indebted to them,” he said.
Meanwhile, tickets for the Total Qatar Open will be available from today at the Qatar Tennis Federation.
Frenchwoman Amelie Mauresmo is the top seed at the event which has attracted its best ever field to date."