Unfortunate not to have too many talented women players: Sania Mirza

Sania Mirza may be enjoying her first significant success, post-injury, winning the silver in the women's singles at the Commonwealth Games but the tennis star doesn't hide her disappointment talking about the women's game in the country.

"It is unfortunate that we aren't getting too many talented youngsters around. I can only find Poojashree (Venkatesha) who has talent. It's like someone suddenly bursts onto the scene in 2005," Sania told the reporters in New Delhi today.

"Till then Nirupama (Sanjeev, then Vaidyanathan) was the flag bearer of women's tennis in India. But, it's unfortunate but the picture of women's tennis is not as bright as men's tennis.

"Like Leander and Mahesh can't continue forever, it's also the case with me. That's why someone needs to come up. The facilities available are good nowadays and one should make full use of it," said Sania, when asked about where women's tennis was heading with 33-year-old Nirupama Sanjeev coming out of retirement and 30-plus Rushmi Chakravarthi, who never looked a part in the big event.

Although Rushmi won a bronze in the women's doubles event pairing up with Sania, the Hyderabadi girl had to do most of the work during the doubles event. Ditto for young Poojashree, who could have done better had she not got a better partner than Nirupama.

On a personal front, Sania said that it's the pressure of expectations that keeps her going.

"I have always maintained that I enjoy playing in pressure situations. The moment I stop enjoying my game, I will quit," Sania said.

However, she admitted that she was happy having won two medals at the Commonwealth Games.

"I am happy that I have played so many matches in the past week. The best part is that I am injury-free. That is something you can't control and is a part and parcel of a professional sportsperson's career. I would have loved to win a gold medal in singles. But when you go into a tie-breaker in the decider, it's more about luck than your game," said India's premier woman tennis star.

After doing reasonably well at the Commonwealth Games, now her focus will be on doing well in the Asian Games in Guangzhou.  "I have always said that CWG and Asian Games are two events that I am focussing on. My next stop is the Asian Games," Sania said.

Tennis being an individual sport, she feels that she can lift her game by a few notches when she is playing for India at the Asian Games, CWG or Olympics than on the WTA Circuit.

"When you are playing in WTA tour events, you can't have India printed on the back of your shirt. It's a different kind of competition. Here, there's crowd support, I have never seen such a choc-a-bloc gallery in Delhi for a tennis match. It obviously lifts your game," she said.

Sania also feels that one should celebrate the fact that India got four medals from tennis rather look at negatives like she and Leander not getting a medal in the mixed doubles and Leander-Mahesh managing only a bronze.

"If four years back, someone would have told me that two Indians would be playing singles final, I would have laughed. But we have done that. Let's celebrate the fact that Somdev has won the gold."

"Similarly, myself and Leander or Leander-Mahesh tried our best. Leander was cramping during our mixed doubles match having played a gruelling three-set a few hours prior to our match. Likes of Leander, Mahesh aren't getting any younger and we have to keep that in mind," she reminded.

Sania also sidestepped the issue about whom does she prefer among Leander and Mahesh as her mixed doubles partner.

"Lot of people don't know that myself and Rohan Bopanna have never lost a mixed doubles match in our careers. I can't compare between two champions like Leander and Mahesh. Both are different type of players and their games suit me differently. Both complement my game in different ways," she said.