The Hindu : Sport : Sania, Gopi Chand felicitated

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Feb 01, 2005

Sport

Sport - Sports : General

Sania, Gopi Chand felicitated

HYDERABAD, JAN. 31. Mr. B.A. Reddy, founder-president of St. Mary's Educational Society, announced that their most famous student, Sania Mirza (now studying B.A.1st year), need not pay any more fees for the rest of her stint with the College.

He announced this to a select gathering, which included personalities from different walks of life and St. Mary's another famous ex-student - 2001 All England badminton champion Pullela Gopi Chand and well-known film actress Jayasudha.

Test star V.V.S. Laxman, also a product of St. Mary's College, could not make it to this function because of the Deodhar Trophy commitments.

The function was to felicitate Sania Mirza on becoming the first-ever Indian woman to enter the third round of a Grand Slam event recently. "We are really proud of you and sincerely wish you will continue to bring laurels," saidMr. Reddy.

Gopi Chand, who was also felicitated for being conferred the Padma Shri, said Sania's achievement should inspire not only other tennis players but athletes from other disciplines too.

"It is imperative to recall the immense sacrifice one has to make to be a successful sportsperson. Only the family members and the close friends and relatives might be aware how difficult it can be to be a successful sportsperson," he said.

Gopi also appealed to the schools and college managements to give equal stress on sports and not just on academics.

"It's time we inculcate a sports culture to produce many more Sania Mirzas," he said amidst lusty cheers from the college students.

Replying to the felicitations, Sania said, "I thank everyone of those who helped me come thus far. It is an honour to be recognized in this way and a very special feeling when my own friends in the college lined up for this memorable function," Sania said.

"I definitely feel now that the 13 years of sacrifice on so many fronts by my parents is definitely worth it," she concluded.

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