She says she’s tired of being dragged into trivial controversies, reports The Telegraph, Calcutta.
Sania Mirza, whose attitude, attire and aggression came to symbolise the emergence of a new India, will not play in her country this year because of recurring controversies off the court. “People are criticising me for either the length of my skirt or appearance in ads or for insulting the national flag. Do I have to prove my patriotism again and again?” the 21-year-old tennis player asked in Hyderabad. The first casualty of the announcement is next month’s Bangalore Open. The Williams sisters – Sania won a billion hearts after losing to Serena in an Australian Open match full of verve in 2005 – are slated to play in Bangalore.
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Given the number of fatwas issues against her, it was bound to happen. Instead of applauding Sania Mirza’s achievements, religious fanatics chose to criticise her for almost everything under the Sun. From the length of her skirt to shooting an ad inside a dargah, Sania was scrutinised and condemned. Her achievements were drowned in the sea of criticism and controversies. It’s a sad day in the history of Indian tennis. If we are going to treat our top sportspersons in this manner, who will ever want to wield a racket or a hockey stick?
Unfortunately the same thing happens when she plays abroad. The latest controversy is, after all, a ‘foot fault’ she committed in Australia.