London: Six-time Grand Slam winner Sania Mirza, 34, will become the second Indian female athlete to compete in four Olympics when she competes in Tokyo that begins on July 23. The other Indian female athlete to compete at four Olympics is discus thrower Seema Punia who bagged her ticket at the Inter-State Athletics Championship on June 29.
This will be Sania’s first time as a mother. “I have had an amazing career,” Sania was quoted as saying to Olympics.com. “It’s just about believing in yourself and believing in your abilities. I am in my 30s and I’m still here! I don’t really think too much about it (how long I will play). I take it day by day, I don’t really think too far into the future,” she added.
In an interview with NDTV, the former India No.1 tennis player recently highlighted the difficulties faced by working mothers. Sania emphasized how hard she had to work in order to be in the kind of physical shape that allows her to compete at the highest level. Being a mother and still being able to compete in a tournament of the Olympics made her feel proud of herself.
“If somebody told me at the previous Olympics that I would be going to another Olympics, I probably would have laughed about it. The fact that I’m here is special for many reasons, it is my fourth Olympics, it’s after having a child, which is something I’m very very proud of, putting myself in a position to compete at the highest level after having a baby,” she said.
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The Hyderabadi star is currently in London for the Wimbledon and had seen her son Izhaan only once in nine days due to visa issues and COVID-19 protocols. She admitted having a difficult time obtaining a visa for England. Sania will be pairing up with American partner Bethanie-Mattek Sands in the women’s doubles.
“Even till the last moment, we weren’t being allowed to board the plane. The plane was leaving in five minutes and there was an issue with the visa. It was really dramatic,” she added. Upon arrival in England, Saina received an exception of being an athlete but her son and sister didn’t, forcing them to be in isolation as per government directives.
“I think being an athlete in these times or any career is tough enough. But being a mother who has to travel from week to week with a toddler or with a young daughter is definitely not easy. And it’s got its own set of challenges,” she said.
Sania also emphasized how rare it is for athletes to return to the field after embracing motherhood. She is also optimistic that her efforts will inspire several other mothers to pursue their dreams.
“I hope it can be an inspiration to some young women and young mothers out there, to say that you don’t have to give up on your dreams if you have a kid, you can still follow up on your own dreams,” Sania added. Sania will be pairing up with Ankita Raina (95th) in the women’s doubles in Tokyo.
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Sania’s previous Olympics appearances came in the 2008 Beijing Olympics (Sunitha Rao), 2012 London Games (Rushmi Chakravarthi) and with Prarthana Thombare in the 2016 Rio Olympics. Sania also praised Ankita — India’s highest-ranked doubles player — and said she had been glad to partner with her in Tokyo Games.
“She is the best player in the country right now. Her discipline is probably her biggest strength. She wakes up every morning and puts in 100 percent every single day. She’s been good over the last few years, she’s No.95 in the world and is invited to WTA events and Grand Slam qualifying,” said Sania.
“She is around this level and what goes into it, and is a very nice girl, we got to spend some time before the Billie Jean King Cup as well. It was the obvious choice, she is the best player in the country right now.”
After giving birth to Izhaan in 2018, Sania won the Hobart International WTA event in January of last year. The Indian ace began her grasscourt season this week at the WTA event in Eastbourne.
