Former sprint queen PT Usha on Tuesday warned that media hype could do more harm than good to tennis ace Sania Mirza's progress as a player.
KOZHIKODE: Former sprint queen PT Usha on Tuesday warned that media hype could do more harm than good to tennis ace Sania Mirza's progress as a player.
She was of the view that the growing media attention would prove counter-productive as it would always put Sania under a lot of pressure while playing.
"You lift her to tremendous heights when she performs well and criticise her severely when she fails to deliver the goods the next time, which is not fair," Usha said.
"No doubt, Sania is an exciting prospect for India but she should be left alone to concentrate more on her game if the country is to benefit further (by her performance)," she added.
Usha also suggested that Sania should prioritise her schedule to avoid injury.
"Besides maintaining her fitness, Sania should be careful in selecting tournaments so that she keeps herself free from injuries," Usha, the most celebrated sportswoman in the country during her times, said.
Usha, who missed an Olympic bronze by a whisker at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, also hailed Sania's rise on the WTA ranking charts, which currently has Sania at the 27th place.
However, Usha said the players get better facilities these days.
"The infrastructure facilities for me was totally different. During my days, everything was based on the individual's performance and publicity was not forthcoming as easily as it happens today," Usha, running the 'Usha School of Athletics near here, said.
"I had to work hard without sponsors and adequate training facilities, but still managed to bring laurels to India. The scenario now is totally different where an individual is provided every kind of support once the talent is spotted," Usha said.
Usha also rued the fact India lacked quality women athletes.
"Though India has been producing many talented sportswomen in different fields, athletics is one area where we have not been able to unearth real talent so far," Usha said.
Usha also lamented that her project (training school) did not get the anticipated support.
"It is five years since I launched the project but I have got only six per cent financial support for the Rs 50-crore project so far," she lamented.
Thanking the Kerala government for offering 30 acres of land at Kinalur in Balussery for the project, Usha said the girls were still being trained at a rented building at Koyilandy in the absence of big sponsors.
"Some individuals have provided free kits to the children, but no big sponsors have come forward to offer assistance," she said.
However, Usha was confident that her dream to provide a sports talent, who could win an Olympic medal for the country, would soon be realised.
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