Sania vows to do whatever it takes to win Olympic medal

Carrying the hopes of a billion people is a ‘privilege’ for Sania Mirza and the Hyderabadi tennis ace vows to give everything it needs to bring home an individual Olympic medal, a feat only four Indians have managed since independence.

Sania will compete in the strongest ever singles field, led by world number one Serb Ana Ivanovic, in the history of the quadrennial extravaganza and the young Indian knows well that the road ahead is full of challenges.

Yet, she is determined to live up to the expectations.

“Winning an Olympic medal in any discipline is not easy and the women’s singles field in tennis is very, very tough. Winning a medal in women’s singles or doubles will have to be against all odds.

“But as someone representing the country, it is my duty to do whatever I possibly can to try and achieve this glory for my country,” Sania told PTI in an exclusive interview.

Whenever she enters the tennis courts, Sania knows the nation of one billion plus people is watching every movement curiously, but she says she does not buckle under the pressure.

“…It is a tremendous honour to represent India at the Olympics but I believe I carry the hopes of my people in every event that I participate in, including the Grand Slams. The pressure is not new to me and I consider it a great privilege,” she said. PTI