Indian tennis star Sania Mirza was on Tuesday appointed 'Brand Ambassador' of Telangana. She will promote the new state's interests in India and abroad, according to Industrial Infrastructure Corporation managing director Jayesh Rajan.
Chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao handed over a letter of appointment and also a cheque of Rs one crore to 27-year-old Sania for her training for the upcoming tournaments. "Everyone here is proud that Sania's native place is Hyderabad. She will be inspiration for many others," he said at an interaction session with industrialists here.
Sania Mirza congratulated KCR on becoming the first CM of Telangana and requested him to promote sports sector in the state.
"She's now ranked number five in international tennis and we wish she becomes the number one," the chief minister said on the occasion.
Sania Mirza recently achieved a career-best rank of number five in the world. Sania, who turned a pro in 2003 and overcame a career-threatening wrist injury, has achieved this ranking for the first time in her career .
Sania Mirza has set up a Tennis Academy in Hyderabad. In 2003, Chandrababu Naidu had launched the Hyderabad tennis open to launch Sania Mirza as a mascot.
She is the highest ranked female tennis player ever from India, with a career high ranking of 27 in singles and 5 in doubles. She is the first Indian female player to surpass US$1m in career earnings; first Indian to win a WTA Tour title of any kind; and, by winning the 2009 Australian Open .
Speaking to local TV channels at the venue, Sania Mirza said, "I am very happy about the gesture of KCR. KCR has recognized the need for promoting international standard of sports infrastructure in Hyderabad. I am a true Hyderabadi and Telanganite and I will strive to fly the flag of Hyderabad at all international evens," she said.
She refused to speak about her business ventures but said her Tennis academy needs to be expanded if the purpose of attracting domestic and national players for training has to be achieved '.
Sania said KCR has assured of all help and assistance for the Academy so that budding Telangana tennis players could make it to national and international events. "I am very glad to be brand ambassador of Telangana," she added.
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