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TENNIS A bubbly and innocent teenager three years ago while training in Bangalore, Sania Mirza, the tennis icon, has to single-handedly face all the pressures accompanying the limelight now
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IN THE SPOTLIGHT For someone who has just turned 18, the change of pace in life for Sania Mirza, with non-stop promotion tours, maddening crowds, and hectic shooting schedules, is certainly bound to be a daunting proposition PHOTO: BHAGYA PRAKASH K.
It was close to dusk and shadows crept across the courts at Bhupathi Tennis Village. Sania Mirza finished her training and dashed to a small lawn, where her mother, coach C.G. Krishna Bhupathi and I were seated.
"Meet Sania, this girl is going to be in the world top 100 soon," said Bhupathi introducing the wisp of a girl. One did a double take, not quite sure about his words. Sania spoke about her childhood, her passion (tennis, tennis and more tennis), her idols in the game and her goals.
"If you want anything more, please feel free to call me at home," said Sania scribbling her Hyderabad home number on my writing pad. She then walked away to her waiting car, after giving a dazzling smile.
Three years down the line, the world has changed for Sania. A stunning display at the 2005 Australian Open, the WTA triumph at Hyderabad and a good show at the Dubai Open means she is now in the top 100, 73 to be precise. She is now the pin-up girl of Indian tennis and sponsors are queuing up to get her to endorse products.
Sania was in town again recently as brand ambassador for a new jewellery store. Traffic came to a standstill on the busy Dickenson Road and people wanting to catch a glimpse of her occupied every inch of space at the store. Lensmen went on a shooting spree and scribes scrambled for a quick chat to get that `good story'. But there was to be none of either.
The media then went on a wild goose chase across the city to trace her. But she had by then called it a day and boarded a flight back home to Hyderabad, politely declining requests to `meet the press'.
"Sania is tired and feels sick," said the PR guy ending all hopes of a little chat with the teen tennis sensation.
I had just one question in my mind to ask her: "How do you handle this new found celebrity status?"
For someone who has just turned 18, the change of pace in life with non-stop promotion tours, exasperating crowds, and hectic shooting schedules is certainly bound to be a daunting proposition. There was a dazed look on Sania's face when she was mobbed by all and sundry and her mother kept asking her: "Are you OK?"
Talk about the price of fame. But then for any sportsperson in India, barring the evergreen cricketers, fame is short and they have to make the hay while the sun shines. Sania is no exception.
Fame should not distract one from the ultimate goal; and warning against that pitfall, U. Vimal Kumar the former National Badminton Champion and coach, says that Sania has to watch out for traps that can mire her career in a commercial quicksand. "She should get her priorities right and should be willing to sacrifice for the sake of the game," he says.
Ashwini Nachappa, former track queen, also feels the same. "Hype and fame are part of game when you achieve a certain degree of success. But that should not be a distraction. I think Sania is mature enough to handle her success."
Nisha Millet, the ace swimmer, also cautions that Sania should stay on track despite finding success on the commercial horizon. "She has loads of talent and I think, she can win a gold for the country in next Asian Games in tennis. I hope she strikes a balance between her ad assignments and tennis. She should not turn into an Indian version of Anna Kournikova," says Nisha.
Sania can really take a leaf from the book of Pankaj Advani, the teenage World Billiards and Snooker Champion. He isn't as big a commercial icon yet, but insists nothing can distract him from his sport. "I have enough belief in myself and make a success of whatever I wish to do. There is lot more to achieve in the game," says Pankaj.
KALYAN ASHOK
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