Nobody There To Take My Place – Sania Mirza

Indian tennis sensation Sania Mirza has ruled out retiring from tennis and she said that there was nobody to take her place as of now. But she has expressed a desire that when she bids adieu to tennis there should be atleast one lady player from India who can create ripples at the grandslam tournaments.

Speaking at a function in Indore tennis club Sania said,”I don’t find the future of tennis in India very encouraging. This is no secret. I see no player from India in the near future who can do well at tournaments abroad after me.” She said,”One day I too have to retire from this game.” She felt that the future of men’s tennis was more encouraging. “After Leander Paes, Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna now we have Somdev Devvarman who is doing well in international tournaments” she said.

She said that she was saddened by the latest doping scandal in Indian athletics and felt especially bad for the women athletes. She said,”Until the charges against them are proved they should not be treated like criminals. If found guilty they should definitely be punished. Talking about tennis coaches she said,”We need good coaches as there are many budding tennis players in the country. Though we have coaches but they lack international exposure.”

Talking about improving the sporting interaction between India and Pakistan, she said,”Everyone wants to see good relations between the two countries. I know that even the players feel so.” She said that when her husband Shoaib Malik plays cricket in India, he feels at home. In a lighter vein she said that even if India and Pakistan fight in a marbles’ competition, the game would be exciting.