Not a “rule-breaker or trendsetter”: Sania Mirza opens up ahead of final tennis event

Sania Mirza is not apologetic for being the way she is. Some people called him a pioneer while some called him a rebel. She says that she is a nobody and just lives life “on her own terms”. Fueled by astonishing success and achievements that no Indian female tennis player has enjoyed and is unlikely to emulate in the near future, Sania has led an inspiring life. During a free-wheeling chat at her villa in Dubai, Sania exhorted society to accept differences and not to brand as “villains or heroes” those who dare to do things in their own way. Are.

“I don’t think I broke the rules. Who are these people who are making these rules and who are these people who are saying that this is the norm and this is the stereotype.”

Before bidding adieu to her tennis career, Sania told PTI, “I think every person is different and every person should have the freedom to be different.”

The 36-year-old Indian said, “I think as a society that’s where we can probably do better, a little bit where we’re trying to praise people or demonize people just because Because they are doing something different.

“And I don’t necessarily think I was some kind of great rule-breaker or some trendsetter. That’s not what I was trying to do. I was living my life.

“We all say different things, we all have different opinions. I think that once we all accept that we are all different, and we can co-exist with those differences Can, when it’s not about breaking the rules.” The holder of six Grand Slam doubles titles and a year-end WTA Championships trophy to go with a career-best singles rank of 27, if Sania is not a trend-setter then what is she? “I look at myself as trying to be as authentic as possible. That’s what I’ve tried to do. I’ve tried to stay true to myself. And I’ve tried to live life on my own terms.

“I think everybody should be able to do that and have the freedom to do that without being told that you’re breaking the rules because you’re doing something you want to do,” she said.

“It’s something I’m very proud of because I think it’s not that I was necessarily different. I may have been different to you, but that doesn’t mean I’m someone who’s a rebel. , or someone who is breaking any kind of rules.

“It’s just my personality and the other person’s personality.” A lot has changed in Indian sports over the years, but in the not too distant past, women athletes struggled for acceptance and recognition, and were not even considered worthy of pursuing a career in sports.

And if someone was from a Muslim family then it was more difficult.

There are some Muslim women wrestlers who fight outside the mat to pursue their passion.

In Sania’s case, she was fortunate that her parents protected her from negative comments that could affect her morale, and allowed her to follow her tennis dreams.

She managed to strike a fine balance where she could play tennis without hurting religious sentiments. He mostly covered his hands and feet while playing.

support female athletes

Sania says that not supporting women athletes is not just limited to Muslim families.

“I don’t think it’s just a Muslim community issue. We need to straighten it out a lot. It’s only in the subcontinent otherwise if it was we would have a lot more young women playing from all communities.”

“You hear a Mary Kom saying that they didn’t want her to take up boxing. It really has nothing to do with any community. I come from a family that was way ahead of its time, Put your young girl into boxing.” Tennis which was a sport that was unheard of from Hyderabad and then dreaming of playing at Wimbledon was unheard of.

“I don’t know if they (parents) feel pressure or anything, but they didn’t make me feel that pressure. They kept me safe, I didn’t really understand much until I was a bit older “

“I heard whispers here and there from aunts and uncles, ‘Kaali ho jayegi toh kya hoga, shaadi kaise hogi (Who will marry you if you turn dark). Things like this, every girl will tell you this side of the world. .

“A young woman is considered competitive only if she looks good or looks a certain way, gets married, has a child. These are the tick marks a girl needs to have to become complete.

“One of the reasons I came back and played as a mother was to show that you can be a world champion and still live a fulfilling life.

“It doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice certain parts of your life. You can’t be a mother, a wife or a daughter. You can still do that and become a world champion,” Sania said.

what hurt her the most

If Sania found success throughout her career, controversies also followed her and sometimes unnecessarily. Asked what hurt her the most, Sania decided not to go back to troubling incidents of the past.

“Honestly I don’t remember. It’s been so long. And honestly it doesn’t bother me at all. I think everything that happened in my life made me the person I am today and it made me Made me very strong.A human being internally and it has made my self-belief even stronger.

He said, “My truth is that I do not remember. I have the ability to overcome a lot of evil in my life. It is not something that is relevant in my life, it is not bringing any positivity to me.” “

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and was auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

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