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Sania will have to manage her awkward world

Sania faces absurd and unwarranted distractions, but it is a pressure that is not going to go away, writes
Rohit Brijnath

A girl sweats. Cramps. Sits. Puts up tired feet that have been running for India. A flag is close by, as flags often are at sports events, and this one is Indian.

A photographer takes a picture seemingly from a clever angle that juxtaposes feet and flag. A case is filed in court. Someone, dutifully, alerts the media. And this non-issue becomes a story. Welcome to Sania Mirza’s world.

As this story crosses oceans, and questions come like a storm, and that sly picture winks from front pages, it’s worth wondering: what sort of mental state did Sania take into the Australian Open? How do you function as an athlete when you’re accused of disrespecting a flag you play for? Is it possible that tennis can be fun when the discussion about you concerns not serves but short skirts, not lobs but leg showing, not footspeed but flag kicking.

That Sania has managed to get to No.29 in the midst of all seems pretty good, wouldn’t you think?

Unfortunate

It’s sad that a competitor, who recently hauled her injured, bandaged self onto court to help win a key Fed Cup match, has to keep saying “I’m a proud Indian.” It’s unfortunate that in India’s small tennis fraternity, older men who have no idea what it means to be seen as young, female, gifted, glamorous, a top 30 player and role model, felt the need to criticise her decision to skip the Bangalore tournament. Even if part of the reason was some appearance fee dust-up, Sania is saying the pressure is throttling and she deserves listening to.

It’s not that Sania doesn’t receive support, or appreciation, or sponsors in India; if anything, she is lucky. When she performs in foreign lands, sometimes it sounds as if she is at home, embraced as she is by Indians, local and vocal. The media has celebrated her, but in a new world there seems a fascination not so much with Mirza the player but Sania the celebrity.

The sweaty girl and her daily struggle is a nice story; the short-skirted woman who annoys some is better news. The real story has been overtaken by the superficial one.

Consequently Sania plays under a pressure that is occasionally obscene, yet not unique. Her world is exaggerated, full of over-praise and rude distractions, yet her world will not alter: those media that are salacious will remain; and controversies will arrive from nowhere. She is allowed to feel sorry for herself, yet must arm herself with the knowledge that others have walked harder roads to glory.

Tough athletes

History is blessed with tales of athletes who have defied adversity. The hardy Algerian, Hassiba Boulmerka, was hit with rocks when she trained, denounced for wearing shorts, and had a special security team shadow her during the Barcelona Games. But she ran, all the way to Olympic gold.

Black athletes growing up in America once faced a hardship that challenges the imagination. Jesse Owens could not eat with white team-mates in restaurants, but won four gold medals. Boxer Joe Louis was instructed by his handlers, when you beat a white opponent, don’t ever smile. Men spat on Jackie Robinson’s shoes and sent him death threats when he broke the colour barrier in baseball, but he prevailed.

Athletes swallow pressure, channel their rage, shrug off insults, hold onto their pride, enjoy whatever they have. It is what Sania, who has had it easier than these athletes, has done so far, and will have to keep doing.

She has played for India (and proudly), and will continue to do so, but on the tour she should remember what Tiger Woods said last week: “You don’t win for anyone else. You do it for yourself and your family. That’s who you play for. You don’t play for pleasing the media, the sponsors, the fans or anything like that.”

Sania’s career is going to be testing, she must speak out about it boldly, but then she must soldier on. Already she is armed with a mean forehand. Now all she requires is a coat of stoicism.

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