Tennis: Sania says no to Aisam
Sania Mirza has refused to partner Aisamul Haq Qureshi on the court despite the Pakistani expressing his interest to play alongside the Indian tennis star several times in the past.
Sania, wife of former Pakistan cricket captain Shoaib Malik, is currently partnering India’s Mahesh Bhupathi who is ranked 15th in the doubles rankings, a place behind Aisam. The Pakistani, who split up with India’s Rohan Bhopana end of last year, is now playing limited mixed doubles events, partnering Czech Republic’s Andrea Hlavackova on the court.
“I’m playing quite well with Bhupathi in grand slams so I don’t think I need to change anything right now,” Sania, who is ranked eighth in doubles world rankings, told The Express Tribune from Stuttgart. “We’ll partner each other in grand slams and playing with Aisam right now is not possible.”
Sania rules out playing in Pakistan for now
The Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) was also keen on bringing Sania onto a tennis court in Pakistan on her various tours of the country. The federation had also hoped for exhibition matches as well as short training sessions that the Indian could be part of. Sania, however, ruled that out too, citing the complete absence of international tournaments in Pakistan.
“I haven’t asked for a huge paycheque in order to feature in charity matches in Pakistan. But as far as competitive matches are concerned, there are, unfortunately, no international tournaments taking place in Pakistan for obvious reasons so there’s no chance I can play there.”
There was another setback for Sania’s fans in Pakistan as the tennis star, who is currently writing a book on her career and the important phases of her life, also ruled out a visit to the country in the near future citing a busy schedule, especially with the 2012 Olympics just over three months away.
Given up singles for doubles: Sania
Meanwhile, Sania confirmed that she has given up playing singles after undergoing her third surgery in the last five years.
“Tennis, and the surgeries, takes a lot out of you. I realised at the start of the year that, keeping my physical state in mind, it was impossible for me to pursue a singles and doubles career. Ever since I’ve given up on my singles career, my performance in doubles matches has been really good. I even reached a career-best seventh in the world and that’s why I’ve decided to concentrate solely on doubles tennis.”
Sania needs to stay in the top-10 by the June 11 cut-off date in order to be eligible for the Olympics and considering she is the only Indian female tennis player in the top-300, she is ‘ready to give it her all despite it being a very difficult task’.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 25th, 2012.
COMMENTS (39)
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We should stop pretending as Sania Bibi is our Jageer. If she doesn't want to play along with a Pakistani tennis player....it's alright!
@Suresh R: Agreed.
@Haroon Rashid: Well gentleman, I don't agree to your "must". The dilema here is why we become so emotional on every single valueless incident. Do we really need and have time to wiast on such rubissh. Anybody don't wants to play with Pakistani player, have right to express one's desires. Its not and should not be an issue, the question is why Sania Mirza become so important to us, treat her as a simple girl who married to a guy of her choice.
@Indian: i couldnt agree more!
@maestro: Marrying a Pakistani DOESN'T make her a Pakistani,does it?so it's her life let her decide instead.
Dude....just one liner i can say....At this point of time, Sania Mirza is nothing but an Veena Mallick for Pakistan...Do not ask me the reason....It is damn obvious.....That is why i am getting all the news about Sania from Pakistani news paper and about Veena from Indian news paper...
She married a Pakistani! Enough said! Stop bringing politics into everything please! She is and IA will remain Pakistan's bahu. She can play with whomever she deems appropriate.
good for her
Our missiles are named after Afghans; our main avenues are named after Arabs; our main cricket stadium is named after a Libyan, who held us in such high esteem.
So, why shouldnt we hanker after an Indian tennis star? After all, she is a Muslimah, and everyone knows we are the Fortress of Islam. So, it is the duty of every Muslim to pay heed when we ask them for something.
Sania Mirza must play in Pakistan, and for Pakistan. Shahrukh Khan, Salman Khan and Aamir Khan also must project Pakistan in a positive light in their movies.
This comment thread is a glaring example of Pakistan's male chauvinism.
Common guys, when did Sania said she will never play with Aisam? This is Olympics Year, and already the season is underway. This is not correct time for a new team pairing. Could have before next season. And it will certain help in creating New Pak-India express jodi.
Obviously she is not up to it, she said herself she is always injured, that is why she said no probably.
Stop taking everything so personally and mixing it up with Pakistani Nationalism or National pride. These are career choices of a superstars. There are lots of factors that have a bearing including chemistry and interpersonal rapport. Its something a person chooses for themselves and trying to smell a rat or making it a india vs pakistan issue is childish. As a Indian I think Sania's right to choose and freedom to do whatever she pleases reigns supreme.
Tommorrow if she chooses to play for pakistan then that too should be welcome by India and in true spirit cheer her. We don't get international sports stars in this part of the world so the least we can do is respect them and feel honored that they decide to even be part of the country they play for. If india looses her as Indians we should accept it and not blame her for it or lync her for it. Thats shallow and demeaning to ourselves. True freedom of choice in democracy remember ? Lets live by that and we will have more people like Sania that we can be proud of.
why do you guys always try and make decisions for others? Why cant you leave it to people concerned?? Aisam might be a great player, so be it, Sania has never said she wants to change her partner, so why should she be bothered and if she was asked, she refused and she has her reasons, these reasons might suit Pakis or might not, that is not her concern. Her only concern is her own career and thats how it stays. In any case, i recall even at the time of her marriage she made it clear that she wants to continue to play for India and that she does not wish to change her nationality. Also that she will not stay in Pakistan and will stay in Dubai....Now, where is the problem really?
@ Yash
ok- i agree- do they make any different rankings when having mix matches???? Those are the rankings they follow- so does it make any difference.
I am not against Aisam- he is a full self-made player in all respects- but this news is piece if crap!!!! and just saying crap abt a gud player be it Aisam or Sania isnot going to help anyone!!!
@King Kong: Don't say such cruel things about Pakistan's bahu. If Sania played in Pakistan she would have to wear a Hijab and we all know how difficult it is to play tennis in hijab. Come on man, be a sport and give bahu a break, will you?
What singles career? Lol.
@Sonia:
agree to everything except that asiam is 14th in MALE doubles ranking and sania is 8th in FEMALE doubles ranking
Why Aisam does not find any doubles partner other than Shoib's wife...........Aisam should never approach her to be his partner............there are lot of players there in the circuit much better than Shoib's wife.....what do you say guyz
Pakistanis' only comfort food is- WE ARE BETTER THAN THE NEXT PARTY
Please stop living in a fool's paradise!!!! and shame on tribune for sensationalizing this crap of a news!!!! this is not really any news!!!!!
Sania has a goal to reach and she is working for it- Olympics- Pakistan is a huge hindrance for her!!!! since factually we dont have anything on the sports scene here- if Aisam did anything- he had to literally beg for recognition- and if Sania comes over here- MEN will be jumping out of their pajamas to get a glimpse of her- it will not be serious tennis- as if our women's cricket team was ever taken seriously by our own crowd!!! So she is better off not coming to Pak.
Aisam has 14th rank in doubles and she 8th- she is in a choosing position and she is better off with someone from her own country.
We need a lot of improvement in our own country to invite someone over for training sessions and playing international level tennis.
@Imran Mohammad: "We Pakistanis never learn"
I agree totally. But there comes a point where you are forced to learn even if you don't want to just to survive.
But she said yes, yes, yes to one Pakistani, that is enough.
AIsam hasn't formally asked her to play with him. It has been more of a desire in interviews etc. Also, if she doesnt want to play with him, big deal. He is doing quite well as it is! :)
Sania is not a good player but very low down in the rankings. Aisam should continue to play with players of his calibre- so this Indian woman has done him a favour by saying no.
The reason for her refusal is obvious. She makes tens of millions of rupees in endorsements in India and after she married Shoaib, she lost most of it. She will lose what little she has left by partnering Aisam. It is a purely business decision - not personal.
Aisam should've never asked her, he's way better than her. It's OK for Sania to marry a Pakistani cricketer, come to Pakistan to meet with Zardari, but it's not OK for her to come here let alone play in Pakistan. She's as Indian as she can get. Shoaib who is no good is no better either.
Aisam > Sania (in all aspects) And Im not saying that just after reading this article.
Sania seems to be living in India. Where does Shoaib Malik live ? Is he out of the picture ?
She said yes to Malik! That's all that counts !
take it light guys
Sania is not the player she was once.
why don't we let her decide about her life rather than meddling. Get a life guys!
Sania, how can you say no to your DEVAR?
Another slap to over-zealous Pakistani fans of Indian stars. We, Pakistanis, never learn!!!!
Not a good decision.. Should respect Husband's home country at least... Will feel one day..
good for aisam honestly. sania sucks bad.