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Thursday, 27 December 2007 |
Seems like Sania Mirza will get a respite from the Mecca Masjid controversy. Masjid officials have asked police to withdraw the case against the tennis star. Sania had later apologised for shooting a commercial in the Masjid premises on December 13.
Police though are yet to take a decision on withdrawing the case. However, there is no word on the case filed against the advertising agency. The case had been registered against Sania in connection with the shooting for a commercial in the historic Mecca mosque in Hyderabad.
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Thursday, 27 December 2007 |
A patch-up between Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi for the sake of country's Olympic campaign was a bright note to end an year in which senior pros disappointed and youngsters shone in patches.
As the Olympic year beckons, India's medal hopes got a fillip with Bhupathi announcing and Paes endorsing that they are game to shake hands and pair up for the quadrennial extravaganza. If 2006 ended on a sour note when Lee-Hesh parted ways, this announcement brought smiles on the faces of the game's lovers in the country.
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Thursday, 27 December 2007 |
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A knee surgery may have kept Sania Mirza out of action for two months but a career-best singles ranking of 27 and a slew of wins over top 20 players convince her that she had the best year of her career so far. Bouncing back from the surgery to touch new heights this year, Sania proved her initial success was not a flash in the pan and says it was a "personal victory" for her in the breakthrough year. "It was a successful year for me - perhaps my best so far. And it was a personal victory for me to have done reasonably despite the knee surgery that also took away 10 weeks from my year," Sania told PTI. |
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Thursday, 27 December 2007 |
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Tennis star Sania Mirza was on Monday signed by world's leading sports brand addidas as its first global brand ambassador.
Announcing this, Hartwin Feddersen, director of marketing, adidas India said: "Sania is one of the most recognisable faces of global tennis and is a youth icon amongst young Asians across the world. Her appeal goes well beyond tennis and the sporting world and it's only natural for us to use her as a global brand ambassador."
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Monday, 17 December 2007 |
Shooting of a commercial advertisement featuring Sania Mirza at the historic Mecca Masjid in Hyderabad has sparked a row with the minorities welfare department Tuesday lodging a complaint against her and an advertisement agency. Hyderabad district minority welfare officer Shaikh Kareemullah lodged a complaint with the Hussaini Alam police station against Sania and the agency, as the advertisement was shot allegedly without permission.
Police officials said they received the complaint and the investigations were on. B. Reddanna, assistant commissioner of police, Charminar, however, was not sure whether presence of Sania in the courtyard of the historic mosque and shooting of a film were cognisable offences. 'We are looking into it whether it constitutes a trespass,' he said and pointed out that she did not enter the main building but remained in the courtyard. Sania or her parents were not available for comment.
Kareemullah also filed a detailed report to the secretary of minority welfare department recommending action against the employees of the mosque, who failed to stop the shooting. |
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Monday, 17 December 2007 |
At 21, Sania Mirza knows how to live life queensize. When the tennis sensation is in town recently for a promotional event for Deutsche Bank, We caught up with her for a Chat.
Between tennis and other things, do you have a life?
Of course I have a life, I've a great life. We do our own stuff when we can, in fact I am planning to watch a movie.
No wild partying?
I don't drink and I don't smoke. But yes, on occasions, I do like to party with close friends.
Isn't sports the new fodder for Bollywood?
I haven't seen Goal yet. I saw Chak De and loved it. It's an inspiring film for women's sports.
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Monday, 17 December 2007 |
 Sania Mirza
Reporter: So is the Australian Open the closest to your heart?
Sania Mirza: It is the one where I have probably more memories of. But I think the closest is Wimbledon because every child growing up, even I never said to myself that I want to play Australian Open. I always said I wanted to play Wimbledon one day. And I said that I want to play at Centre Court one day and my dream did come true and I think that is why that is more special to me.
Reporter: It is also another player's favourite Grand Slam - Roger Federer. So what was the first thing you said to him?
Sania Mirza: The first time I ever met him, I actually hit with him for about 5-10 minutes. I was finishing my session and he was starting his session. So he said just warm me, so we warmed up. That's how we met.
Reporter: Sania you had a great year. Now 2008 is here and what do you want out of the next year?
Sania Mirza: Firstly, I would like to stay injury-free. That is something I wanted to do this year but I had a freak accident and I missed three months and I regret that. I don't want to do that again. My second goal is that I want to give all that I have now. I have not set a goal in terms of rankings. But in terms of how good I can be and how much I can improve. There are certain areas that I want to add and to strengthen.
Reporter: Are you planning something for 2008? Do you say to yourself that these are the tournaments I will concentrate on and this is how I will pace myself?
Sania Mirza: Every tournament is as important as the other. Off course you want to peak at the Grand Slams because that is obviously a Slam. Besides that the only thing that you are probably planning ahead is that you don't want to be too tired for a Slam so I just want to take it easy maybe a week before the Slam and just practice. |
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Monday, 17 December 2007 |
 Sania Mirza
Sania would be representing the company and the car for a period of 3 years in a deal, which is said to be worth around Rs. 1.5 Crores. No one from the company or the Globosport, the professional managers of Mirza commented on the financial details of this deal. However, hiring Sania is not surprising news after all. Hyundai have on their list stars like Shah Rukh Khan and Preity Zinta for promoting their vehicles in the country. |
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Monday, 17 December 2007 |
World No 32 Sania Mirza has not set any goals but hopes to end the 2008 season on a brighter note by finishing within the top 20.
At a function where she appeared as the brand ambassador of Deutesche Bank on the eve of her 21st birthday here on Tuesday, Sania said she was trying her best to push up her ranking.
"I am playing my best and will strive to achieve a ranking of 20 before the end of the 2008 season."
She is presently ranked 27 on the WTA tour-ending race for the year 2007.
Mirza, whose earning this year touched USD 395,597 and who had a win-loss ratio of 30-19 in singles, parried questions on the issue of fixing of matches in the men's circuit, saying, "It does not happen in the women's circuit to my knowledge. I have not experienced any such instances. If it is happening on the ATP Circuit, it is not good for the game. I am not that experienced to make any comment on such things."
Terming Justine Henin as a terror on the WTA circuit, she said, "Henin is lady Federer. She is what Federer (Roger) is on the men's circuit. She is a terror for all women players and she wins whatever tournament that she competes."
When asked about her injury woes, she said she had played more number of matches this year. |
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Monday, 17 December 2007 |
 Sania Mirza
Sania, who was at 59 last week, jumped 11 places to be at 48 following her fine run in the USD 1.3 million Acura Classic in San Diego, according to the WTA rankings released on Monday.
Sania also becomes the first Indian since Ramesh Krishnan to break into the top-50 in world rankings. Vijay Amritraj was ranked 16th in July 1980, while Ramesh Krishnan was ranked 23rd in 1985. |
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