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.
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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.
'I'm an Indian & always will be'
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.
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.
(Image: Instagram)
When Sania Mirza shut down Rajdeep Sardesai
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)