Elvis-wannabe Leander Paes has hit back at Sania Mirza's decision to skip the Bangalore Open amidst the constant scrutiny by their home country. In a recent e-mail interview, the 21-year old Mirza criticized the media and her country for neglecting to focus equal attention on Mahesh Bhupathi and Leander Paes' decision not to play the Chennai Open.
The Indian Davis Cup captain and seven-time Grand Slam winner told reporters after a pratice session for the upcoming tie,
"Look at every celebrity, who does not have controversies? We all have adversities. Every celebrity have adversities in their lives. It’s how dignified and honest you are. It's about how you project yourself and how you handle them.[...] I do not want to get into it. I am not bothered but the greatest joy for any athlete is to play for the country and in the country and play for the people. Nobody is greater than the game. That's something Sania has to be careful about."We don't think Sania believes she's greater than the game of tennis. But the controversies and her own country's accusations have made these issues a political one - something that's becoming bigger than tennis itself.
(image via doha-2006.com)
Personally I think she made a bold and right move to pulled out from the tournament. Just leave the girl alone.
ReplyDeleteI don't blame Sania, she has done a lot to boost the tennis moral for young Indians, and for mistreatment (death threats, public scrutiny, the flag issue), she should thumb her nose at the tournament. Did tourny organizers support her through all of this turmoil? No, it seems as if they left her out to hang and dry on her own.
ReplyDeleteI think if she wore tights/spandex leggings under a tennis skirt they still would not be happy.
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