Sania Mirza isn’t apologetic for being considered one of a sort.
Just a few individuals selected to name her a trailblazer whereas some labelled her a insurgent. She says she is none and simply lived life ”on her personal phrases”.
Splashed with mind-blowing success and achievements that no Indian feminine tennis participant may take pleasure in and that are unlikely to be emulated within the imminent future, Sania has lived an inspiring life.
During a free-wheeling chat at her villa in Dubai, Sania implored society to settle for variations in opinion and never model as ”villain or heroes” the individuals who dare to do issues in their very own manner.
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”I don’t suppose that I broke the principles. Who are these people who find themselves making these guidelines and who’re these people who find themselves saying that is the norm and that is the stereotype?
”I believe every particular person is totally different and every particular person ought to have the liberty to be totally different,” Sania informed PTI in an unique interview, earlier than bidding adieu to her tennis profession.
The 36-year-old Indian added, ”I believe that’s the place as a society we are able to in all probability do higher, slightly bit the place we are attempting to hail individuals or make individuals the dangerous guys simply because they’re doing one thing totally different.
”And I don’t essentially suppose that I used to be some sort of an awesome rule-breaker or some trendsetter. That’s not what I used to be attempting to do. I used to be residing my life.
”We all say issues in another way, all of us have totally different opinions. I believe as soon as all of us settle for that we’re all totally different, and we are able to co-exist with these variations is when it won’t be about breaking the principles anymore.” Holder of six Grand Slam doubles titles and a year-end WTA Championships trophy to go together with a career-best singles rank of 27, if Sania isn’t a trend-setter then what’s she? ”I do have a look at myself as attempting to be as genuine as attainable. That’s what I’ve tried to do. I’ve tried to keep true to myself. And I’ve tried to reside life alone phrases.
”I believe all people ought to be ready to do this and have the liberty to do this with out being informed that you’re breaking the principles since you are doing one thing that you really want to do,” she stated.
”That is one thing I take a number of satisfaction in as a result of I believe that it’s not that I used to be essentially totally different. I may need been totally different to you, however that doesn’t imply that I’m somebody who’s a insurgent, or somebody who’s breaking some sort of guidelines.
”It’s simply my individuality and one other individual’s individuality.” So much has modified in Indian sports activities in the previous few years, however within the not-too-distant previous, girls athletes struggled for acceptance and recognition and weren’t even thought of worthy of pursuing a profession in sport.
And if one was from a Muslim household, it was harder.
There are Muslim girls wrestlers who battle outdoors the mat simply to be ready to pursue their ardour.
In the case of Sania, she was lucky that her dad and mom shielded her from destructive feedback which may have affected her morale, and let her comply with her tennis desires.
They managed to strike a wonderful stability the place she may pursue tennis with out hurting spiritual sentiments. She, largely, had her legs and arms coated whereas enjoying.
Sania says not supporting girls athletes isn’t restricted to simply Muslim households.
”I don’t suppose it’s only a Muslim group subject. We want to get that very straight. It’s within the sub-continent itself in any other case if that was the case we’d have much more younger girls enjoying from all communities.
”You hear a Mary Kom, saying that they didn’t need her to field. It actually doesn’t have to do with a group per se. I got here from a household that was very a lot forward of their occasions, they put their younger lady into tennis which was a sport which was unparalleled in Hyderabad after which dreamed of enjoying at Wimbledon, it was not heard of.
”I don’t know in the event that they (dad and mom) felt strain or something however they didn’t make me really feel that strain. They saved me protected, I didn’t actually perceive it a lot till I grew a bit older.
”I did hear the whispers right here and there from aunts and uncles, ’kaali ho jayegi to kya hoga, shaadi kaise hogi (in case your complexion turns into darkish who’s going to marry you). This kind of stuff, each lady will inform you from this facet of the world.
”A younger girl is taken into account full solely when she appears to be like good or reasonably appears to be like a sure manner, will get married, have a child. These are the tick marks {that a} lady ought to have to develop into full.
”One of the explanations for my comeback and play as a mom was to present that you may be a world champion and nonetheless have a whole life.
”It doesn’t imply that you’ve to sacrifice some components of your life. That you possibly can’t be a mom, a spouse or a daughter. You can nonetheless do it and be a world champion,” Sania asserted.
If success got here Sania’s manner all through her profession, the controversies too chased her, and plenty of a time unnecessarily.
She was accused of disrespecting the Indian flag when that was not the case. She was chided for ”supporting” pre-marital intercourse when she had not stated something like that. She was additionally accused of taking pictures inside a mosque for business profit when truly she had not entered the restricted space.
A Fatwa was additionally issued towards her for carrying an un-Ismalic costume (skirt).
Asked what harm her probably the most, Sania selected not to return to the disturbing incidents of the previous.
”Honestly I don’t keep in mind. It’s been too lengthy. And truthfully it doesn’t hassle me in any respect. I believe that every thing that occurred in my life has made me the individual that I’m in the present day and it has made me very sturdy as a human being internally and it has made my self-belief even stronger.
”My sincere reality is I don’t keep in mind. I’ve an awesome capability to omit a number of dangerous in my life. It isn’t one thing that’s related in my life, it’s not bringing me any positivity,” she stated.
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(This story has not been edited by News18 employees and is printed from a syndicated information company feed)
