We aren’t a sporting nation: Sania Mirza

Sania Mirza gained six Grand Slams in her profession. Reuters

Sania Mirza redefined feminine tennis in India and within the sub-continent area. The tennis legend has a number of firsts to her title together with being the primary Indian to win a WTA title, the primary Indian lady to win a Grand Slam trophy, first Indian lady to be World No 1 amongst others.

The 36-year-old retired from the sport in February earlier this 12 months after a first-round defeat on the ladies’s doubles occasion within the WTA Dubai Open.

Months after retirement, the tennis ace reflecting on her profession, in an interview on JioCinema, has mentioned that she would need folks to recollect her as somebody who made a distinction.

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“I need them to recollect me for the issues I’ve achieved. For being the particular person to consider that each one this was doable, in so many alternative ranges. I feel I would love them to recollect me as any individual who stood up for reality and who tried to be as sincere as doable. The legacy can’t be of simply me hitting tennis balls, it must be a lot bigger than that. The legacy additionally must be of somebody who tried to make a distinction. If I remembered for these few issues, I’ll really feel like I’ve achieved what I’ve been right here for,” she mentioned on House of Heroes on JioCinema.

Sania turned skilled 20 years in the past in 2003, in a interval the place what an athlete wore was mentioned greater than her achievements. Nevertheless, conversations round her by no means impacted Sania’s mentality.

“I used to be not aware in any respect. I feel that plenty of it was additionally media created as a result of it acquired boring to speak about one identical woman, each day taking part in forehands and backhands, so how a lot will they wish to speak about it. So, it acquired boring and so they needed to make it spicy and plenty of my points that occurred with me in my early years have been lots media created, sadly. And that’s simply the best way it was. And I used to be by no means nervous. And that’s as a result of I had my dad and mom. I knew it doesn’t matter what, they’d my again. And I feel that’s the place my dad and mom got here the place they’d this strong grounding for me the place I believed, no matter something that occurs in my life, this core that I’ve won’t ever go within the type of my family and friends and stuff. So, I used to be by no means scared to do something as a result of I all the time knew they’d my again,” she added.

The six-time Grand Slam winner additionally mentioned that not many feminine tennis stars are coming from India on account of a scarcity of a sporting tradition.

“The identical factor that I mentioned firstly of this interview, that we have to nurture youngsters from a younger age, now we have to spend money on sports activities. We can not develop into a sporting nation 4 months earlier than Olympics after which be a sporting nation 4 months after after which that’s it for 4 years. We aren’t a sporting nation. We’re a cricketing nation. And other people don’t prefer it once I say that. However that’s the reality. And generally it’s a must to hear the reality to make a change. We aren’t any individual, particularly when a woman is born, we don’t say, ‘Let’s make her an athlete.’ That isn’t what is claimed in any respect. If you happen to go to Australia, that may be a sporting nation the place you’re going and watching any sport and it’s packed. So, first, now we have to alter the tradition, second, now we have to get a system in place and third, we have to nurture youngsters from an age of eight, 9, ten and never watch for them to develop into one thing after which make investments cash in them or make investments time in them.

“Additionally, I feel it’s crucial that now we have the correct of coaches and trainers, whether or not that’s introduced in from outdoors to coach the those who now we have right here or simply herald folks from outdoors to nurture these youngsters that you’re figuring out, that will likely be your tomorrow as a result of except you try this, as a result of as we speak in the event you ask me any woman like outdoors of Karman Kaur Thandi who can also be 24 years previous, which isn’t younger in tennis anymore. Exterior of her and if she doesn’t do it within the subsequent couple of years it’s going to be tough. I can not title you one particular person the place I’m like, oh my God, this woman is so exceptionally good, she’s going to hold that baton and that’s unhappy.”

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