ISSUE
Friday, August 15, 2025
Volume 16 . Issue 72
Sania Mirza, the 28-year-old Tennis player, has achieved something no Indian woman has before. Paired with former World No 1, Martina Hingis, Mirza created history as they defeated Russian duo Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina in the final to win the women’s doubles title at Wimbledon. It was a big day for the women’s game in India.
Mirza become the first Indian woman to win the title, and her journey to reach this pedestal has not been easy. Since the media first spotted her in 2009 when she became the country’s first woman to win a Grand Slam, she has been subject to criticisms from religious groups and politicians. But amid all controversies, each time she pulled off a major win, it validatedher ability to triumph over criticisms.
In the early years of her career, Muslim scholars criticised her for wearing a short skirt while playing the game. A fatwa was issued by a group of Muslim clerics demanding that her attire was “un-Islamic”. In 2005, her statement on safe sex whether before or after marriage found her in controversial waters again. In early 2008, a court case was filed against her when she was photographed with her feet in the vicinity of the national flag. Many questioned her patriotism when she decided to marry Shoaib Malik, who is on Pakistan’s cricket team. Later, when she was appointed as the brand ambassador of Telengana, a BJP MP said she was a “daughter-in-law of Pakistan” and therefore shouldn’t take on the role.
The world of sports is subjected to sexism around the world. For Mirza, her problem rose from being born in a country such as India where patriarchy rules the society. So whether it was thelength of her skirt or her personal choice of marrying someone who is not an Indian, Mirza found herself in the middle of a system who wants to control everything she does. They seemed to be wanting to crush her pride and her can-do spirit.
But again and again, Mirza held her head high and continued battling critics off-court and her opponents on court. Year after year, she proved to be victorious, and throughout her journey, she has represented India with dignity and made her country proud. And now that Mirza has a Wimbledon title under her belt, the country is ready to embrace their daughter back with open arms.
Sania Mirza, the 28-year-old Tennis player, has achieved something no Indian woman has before. Paired with former World No 1, Martina Hingis, Mirza created history as they defeated Russian duo Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina in the final to win the women’s doubles title at Wimbledon. It was a...
Sania Mirza, the 28-year-old Tennis player, has achieved something no Indian woman has before. Paired with former World No 1, Martina Hingis, Mirza created history as they defeated Russian duo Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina in the final to win the women’s doubles title at Wimbledon. It was a big day for the women’s game in India.
Mirza become the first Indian woman to win the title, and her journey to reach this pedestal has not been easy. Since the media first spotted her in 2009 when she became the country’s first woman to win a Grand Slam, she has been subject to criticisms from religious groups and politicians. But amid all controversies, each time she pulled off a major win, it validatedher ability to triumph over criticisms.
In the early years of her career, Muslim scholars criticised her for wearing a short skirt while playing the game. A fatwa was issued by a group of Muslim clerics demanding that her attire was “un-Islamic”. In 2005, her statement on safe sex whether before or after marriage found her in controversial waters again. In early 2008, a court case was filed against her when she was photographed with her feet in the vicinity of the national flag. Many questioned her patriotism when she decided to marry Shoaib Malik, who is on Pakistan’s cricket team. Later, when she was appointed as the brand ambassador of Telengana, a BJP MP said she was a “daughter-in-law of Pakistan” and therefore shouldn’t take on the role.
The world of sports is subjected to sexism around the world. For Mirza, her problem rose from being born in a country such as India where patriarchy rules the society. So whether it was thelength of her skirt or her personal choice of marrying someone who is not an Indian, Mirza found herself in the middle of a system who wants to control everything she does. They seemed to be wanting to crush her pride and her can-do spirit.
But again and again, Mirza held her head high and continued battling critics off-court and her opponents on court. Year after year, she proved to be victorious, and throughout her journey, she has represented India with dignity and made her country proud. And now that Mirza has a Wimbledon title under her belt, the country is ready to embrace their daughter back with open arms.
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