The Hindu : Sport : Most memorable moment of my career: Sania Mirza

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Friday, Dec 15, 2006
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Most memorable moment of my career: Sania Mirza

V. V. Subrahmanyam

`Transformation after stint with trainer Mathew is unbelievable'

— PHOTO: K. RAMESH BABU

TWINKLING STAR: Sania has impressed all with her showing at Doha.

HYDERABAD: `The Queen' is back home after scripting history by becoming the first Indian woman tennis player to win three medals — two silver and one gold — in the Doha Asian Games. Sania Mirza said that receiving the gold medal on the podium along with Leander Paes, to the accompaniment of the national anthem, was the "most memorable and emotional moment" of her career.

In an exclusive chat with The Hindu after her return to Hyderabad on Thursday morning, Sania said that she was playing at her best now. "The transformation after the three-week stint with South African physical trainer Heath Mathew has been unbelievable," she said.

"I believe that I had a great week in Doha. It is unfortunate that I missed the singles gold and also the women's team event gold. But, we have to confess that our rivals played better tennis that day," she said. Sania doesn't want to complain about the taxing schedule as it was the same for everyone.

Best phase

Sania said that this month, starting with the Asian Hopman Cup win in Hyderabad, had been the best phase this year in terms of not just the results but also the way she had been playing. "Now, I am reaching the ball much faster. My opponents cannot expect easy points anymore. But, there is no doubt I have to work a lot more," she said.

For Sania the Doha Asian Games performance is a big morale-booster ahead of the prestigious Hopman Cup in Perth next month.

"It has been a great experience to face some of the best players in Doha. And this should help me a lot next year," she said. She also feels that the women's team silver should see a big turnaround in the sport back home.

Special medal

"When we beat Thailand then only we realised that we have never won a women's medal in the Asian Games. For this reason, the silver medal was special. Perhaps by the next Asian Games India will be a leading medal prospect in women's tennis," she said.

Sania who had a disappointing year, dedicated the Asian Games medals to her parents — Imran Mirza and Naseema.

"I think they have done their best to contribute their mite under adversity," she added. What were her pre-Asiad expectations? "Everyone was expecting us to win all gold medals at stake. But eventually all of us were amongst medals, and that is a great feeling," she pointed out.

Showing a growing maturity in handling the media, Sania didn't want to make any comments on the dismal performances of some Indians in other disciplines.

"I know what it means to be a loser. No one goes out there to lose. Any sportsperson will try to play at his or her best. It would be unfair for me to comment on the performances of my fellow sportspersons in the Asian Games," she said.

Did the controversy of Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi play on her mind before the crucial finals — singles and mixed doubles?

"Definitely not. It is better if we leave it to them to settle. More importantly, the focus should be on the gold they won. That matters. Not the focus on who wants to play with whom," said Sania.

Her message for the fans? "I need their support. Like they have been doing over the years. It is great to get crowd support and I tell you there were huge crowds that turned up for the tennis matches," she said.

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