Sania Mirza has always hit back at those who have tried to belittle her achivements, question her life choices or attack her patriotism.
Sania Mirza is India's most succesful women's tennis star and one of the most impactful athletes to come out the country. She is a former World No. 1 in women's doubles and has six Grand Slam titles to her name. She has also won 14 medals combined at the Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and Afro-Asian Games.
However, like many women in sports, she has had to face stereotypes throughout her career. For example, Sania had faced more criticism for her dress than her game.
Sania has not only managed to succeed despite these hurdles but also challenged these notions.
After getting marriage to Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik, she also had faced repeated attempts to question her love for the nation. In Pakistan, on the other hand, she has been targetted for continuing with her career and her choice of being recognised as an Indian.
But, it seems Sania is not only used to shooting aces on the tennis court but also hitting brilliant returns in real life. She has always hit back at those who have tried to belittle her achivements, question her life choices or attack her patriotism.
Let's look at the some instances when Sania destroyed her detractors with the wit, zeal and passion.
1. 'Happy Independence Day'
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In 2018, when a troll questioned her nationality and wished her a 'Happy Independence Day' on August 14, as usual Sania Mirza came up with a perfect response.
Sania was ready with a reply and destroyed the troll for his implicit comment.
She wrote in Hindi, "No, my country's and my Independence Day is tomorrow (August 15) and my husband and his country are celebrating today (August 14). Hope your confusion is cleared. When is yours, by the way - since you seem very confused?"
Jee nahi.. mera aur mere country ka Independence Day kal hai, aur mere husband aur unnki country ka aaj!! Hope your confusion is cleared !!Waise aapka kab hai?? Since you seem very confused .. https://t.co/JAmyorH0dV
— Sania Mirza (@MirzaSania) August 14, 2018
2. 'I'm an Indian & always will be'
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Sania Mirza was one of the many Indian celebrities who spoke up against the gruesome gang-rape and murder of an eight-year-old in Kathua.
A Twitter user told Sania that she was a Pakistani, since she was married to cricketer Shoaib Malik, and suggested she should stay away from commenting on India's problems.
With all respect madam which country are you talking abt.Last time I checked u had married into Pakistan. You no longer are a Indian. And if u must tweet thn also tweet for the innocents killed by Pak terror outfits..
— Kichu Kannan Namo (@Kichu_chirps) April 12, 2018
Sania hit back saying she was an Indian and NO LOW LIFE will tell her which country she belonged to. "I play for India,I am Indian and always will be.. nd maybe if u look beyond religion and country one day you may just also stand for humanity," wrote Sania.
First of all nobody marries ‘into’ anywhere .. you marry a person! Secondly NO LOW LIFE like you will tell me which country I belong to.. I play for India,I am Indian and always will be.. nd maybe if u look beyond religion and country one day you may just also stand for humanity! https://t.co/0rF9SwG7WT
— Sania Mirza (@MirzaSania) April 12, 2018
(Image: Instagram)
3. Na-Raazi
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When the tralier of Alia Bhatt’s “Raazi” released, some people compared the story to the life of Sania Mirza who got married to Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik. In the film Alia plays a Indian girl who gets married to an Pakistani and spies for her country.
Alia's Bhatt's "Raazi" is a story of an Indian girl who gets married to a Pakistani man but she still works for India. Basically, this movie is a biopic of Sania Mirza. #RaaziTrailer
— Bollywood Gandu (@BollywoodGandu) April 10, 2018
Sania had just this to say.
Ummm.. I think not https://t.co/6gSfMHTHVd
— Sania Mirza (@MirzaSania) April 10, 2018
4. India or Pakistan
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Fans always get excited when India and Pakistan compete in any sports. However, some find it an excuse to troll Sania Mirza. In 2016, when India was playing Pakistan in a cricket match, Sania Mirza started trending on Twitter. It's not hard to guess what Tweeple were talking about.
Sania reacted to this with a deadpan tweet. But the hashtag 'some people seriously need to get a life' showed how she really felt about it.
It's over .. Have I stopped trending yet?? #somepeopleseriouslyneedtogetalife
— Sania Mirza (@MirzaSania) March 19, 2016
(Image: PTI)
5. My dress is my business
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When Sania Mirza first hit the Indian tennis scene, she was the biggest sensation in the country; which disturbed a few of the orthodox Muslim clergy who went on to hit her with a fatwa in 2005, demanding her to cover up. She was targeted and criticised for wearing short skirts and revealing tops on the international tennis circuit.
“The dress she wears on the tennis courts…leaves nothing to the imagination. She will undoubtedly be a corrupting influence,” said one of such detractors.
Sania replied, "As long as I am winning people should not care whether my skirt is 6 inches long or 6 feet long".
(Image: PTI)
6. When Sania Mirza shut down Rajdeep Sardesai
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Sania launched her autobiography titled Ace Against Odds in 2016.
In an interview to discuss the book, journalist Rajdeep Sardesai asked her, "Amidst all the celebrityhood, when is Sania going to settle down? ... What about motherhood? Building a family? I don’t see that in the book. It seems like you don’t want to retire yet to settle down.”
Sania was ready with her reply, "You don't think I'm settled? You sound disappointed that I am not choosing motherhood over being No.1 in the world at this point of time. But I'll answer your question anyway. This is one of the questions, as women, that we have to face all the time...Unfortunately, that's when we are settled and no matter how many Wimbledons we win or No.1s we become, we don't become 'settled'."
Though, Rajdeep apologised immediately on realising the ill construction of his question but he also admitted that he would never have asked the same question to a male athlete.
Sania aptly summed up in her words, "I hope a few years from now, a girl, when she is 29 isn't asked the question about when she is going to have a child when she is No.1 in the world."
(Image: DNA File Photo)
