Winning a medal in next year’s Rio Olympics would be a dream come true, but if it did not happen it won’t be the end of the world, said India’s woman tennis star Sania Mirza on Tuesday.
“It’s just a hope, right? If we (she and Leander Paes) win (a medal in mixed doubles), it will be a dream come true. If we don’t, life goes on. It’s not the end of the world,” said the joint world no.1 in women’s doubles at a promotional event in Mumbai.
The Hyderabad-based star was responding to a question about former Davis Cup star Ramesh Krishnan’s recent statement that mixed doubles provided veteran Paes, winner of a singles bronze medal in the 1996 Games at Atlanta, his best chance to win his second Olympic medal in Rio.
Krishnan felt India have a good chance to win a medal at Rio in mixed doubles but it would be a great challenge for an ageing Paes to win his second medal at the Olympics.
“He’s (Paes) talking about one more Olympics but with each passing day it is getting difficult. I am sure he is hoping and we are also hoping for one last push. The only thing is you can prepare yourself well. You never know what will happen. Mixed doubles is the best option,” he said.
Sania, who returned last night from Singapore after winning the women’s doubles title with her Swiss partner and joint world no. 1 Martina Hingis in the season-ending WTA Finals in Singapore, and India football captain Sunil Chhetri were launched as brand ambassadors by pain reliever brand, ’Volini’.
Sania was also very pleased about tennis legend Martina Navrotilova’s description in a tweet about her performance in Singapore after presenting the winner’s trophy to top seeds Sania and Martina Hingis.
“It’s a great honour and I am humbled. She told me I am seeing the ball like a football,” said India’s best-ever female tennis player about the all-time great’s comments after she and the other star Martina won their ninth title of the season with their 22nd consecutive match win.
