Sania Mirza is the choice of CNN-IBN viewers

Sania Mirza is the choice of CNN-IBN viewers

Sania Mirza, the tennis sensation from Hyderabad is the sportsperson of India, for the year 2005, as per the poll conducted by CNN-IBN News Channel. The International sportsperson for the year 2005 goes to Fernando Alonso, Formula 1 World Champion.

Sania Mirza is a clear winner and came ahead of many sportspersons of India, and certainly Sania is not only a good player, she is also in the heart of millions of Indian.

On 19 January 2005, 18-year-old Sania Mirza had become the first Indian woman to reach the third round of a Grand Slam tennis event. Sania Mirza ranked 166, who got a wild card entry into the Australian Open in Melbourne, beat Hungarian Petra Mandula, a former French Open quarterfinalist, 6-2, 6-1 in the second round, and lost to Serena Williams in third round.