One of the most successful tennis players from India received a heart-warming send-off today amidst fans, family, friends and sporting personalities.
One of the most successful tennis players from India, Sania Mirza, received a heart-warming send-off today amidst fans, family, friends and sporting personalities.
Mirza hails from Hyderabad where she started her tennis journey over two decades ago, and fittingly ended it in the city, and in the stadium where she own her first WTA title. The grand event at the Lal Bahadur Stadium saw her play a series of friendly matches with renown tennis stars Rohan Bopanna, Ivan Dodig, Bethanie Mattek-Sands, Cara Black and Marion Bartoli. The exhibition matches were attended by her family, dignitaries from the State government and prominent personalities, including Kiran Rijiju, K T Rama Rao, Yuvraj Singh, Mohammad Azharuddin, Diana Penty, Huma Qureshi, Srinivas Goud, C V Anand, Ananya Birla, MC Stan, DGP Anjani Kumar, D Q Salman, Jayesh Ranjan, Sandeep Sultania, Avinash Gowarikar, Punit Malhotra, Robin Uthappa, Rakshanda Khan, students of the Sania Mirza Tennis Academy, and tennis fans from all over the country.
Mirza's last match was a fitting tribute to her incredible career, filled with entertainment, excitement and nostalgia as fans bid farewell to one of India's greatest tennis players.
An emotional Mirza shared, "I have in my career achieved more than I could have ever imagined, and I am grateful for every moment on the court. I have always wanted to play my last match in front of my home crowd in Hyderabad, and I'm so thankful to the Government of Telangana for making this happen."
Speaking on the occasion, Minister for IT & Urban Development K T Rama Rao said, "In a country like India which was erstwhile known to be a male-dominated sporting society, Sania Mirza paved the path for women across sports. She is an an inspiration to all the young girls of the country who aspire to make a career in sports and represent the nation."
Minister for Sports Srinivas Goud said, "I extend my warmest wishes to Sania Mirza as she sets foot in the next phase of her life, and congratulate her on her splendid career. Her contribution to the Indian sports has been exemplary, and she has been a torchbearer in the truest sense. She has set a strong foundation for women in sports. I'm happy to be part of this momentous occasion."
Tennis player Rohan Bopanna, who partnered Mirza in several mixed doubles matches, said, "Sania Mirza has been an exceptional athlete and a true ambassador of Indian tennis. It was a privilege for me to have played with her and won many tournaments for the country. Her contributions to Indian tennis have been immense, and she has always been a great partner and friend. I wish her all the best, and I am sure she will instill the high values she has demonstrated in her career to the next generation of Indian tennis."
Mirza's family said, "As a family, we are extremely proud of Sania and everything that she has achieved in her career. We are delighted that the city of Hyderabad will witness her last game before she hangs her boots. It is a perfect farewell for someone who has given so much to the sport and inspired so many young tennis players. Our support will always be with her and we are confident that she will continue make us proud."
A post-match ceremony was held at the Trident hotel in Hitech City. The gala dinner witnessed eminent personalities such as Allu Arjun, Ananya Birla, Mahesh Babu, Namrata Shirodkar, Nagarjuna, Yuvraj Singh, Zaheer Khan, Sagarika Ghatge, A R Rahman and DQ Salman to name a few.
Mirza won six Grand Slam doubles titles in her career, including three women's doubles and three mixed doubles titles. She was at one point in time rated the no. 1 women's doubles player in the world. She also reached the fourth round of the US Open in women's singles in 2005.