Surprise Party Brings In Sania's 21st B'day: Wish Her

Sania Mirza and her mother Nasima share more than a mother-daughter bond. They also share a birthday. On Thursday, November 15, as the Indian ace's 21st birthday broke, Nasima, along with husband Imran and younger daughter Anam, watched as wonder gave way to joy, when an unsuspecting Sania, was led into a surprise party, the family had organised for her and her close group of friends at a luxury hotel in Hyderabad.

"She had absolutely no clue, it was a total surprise," Nasima said. "I was doing the planning with Anam and Rucha (Sania's best friend). Each time I would step out of the room to take or make a call in the last few days, Sania would ask, why do you have to leave the room to make a call? It was worth all the effort. In the evening, Sania wanted to know if we had anything planned. I told her we had nothing planned. Later, some of her friends brought her to the party hall, making some excuse, and she was thrilled. You could see it on her face."

Unlike in the days of Nasima's youth, birthdays these days, especially a one as significant as the number 21, take on a whole different hue. "When I was growing up, it was just another birthday. I was married by the time I was 23," Nasima said. "It is important, however, to be aware of the significance of the occasion to today's youngsters. With my daughters, one 14 and the other 21, I have always believed in a dialogue. I listen to what they have to say and in turn they listen to what I have to say to them. Parenting is about understanding, it is give and take."

"Sania has been an obedient daughter," Nasima added. "She has been that all her 21 years. On this special day, I wish her another four or five great years in tennis, and then I wish she settles down. Whether she chooses to carry on playing after that is her choice, but I would like to see her settle down. Most of all I wish God grants her the strength to face whatever life has in store for her, on and off the court."

"She has been an exceptional child," Nasima said. "I am proud of her every moment of the day. There are also those extra special moments, like during the American hardcourt circuit this summer, all the nice things commentators and other players were saying about her. It's a nice to know that you have done well by your children."

All in all it was an emotional day for the birthday mom. "My younger daughter (Anam, 14) surprised me with a cake. Sania bought me a watch and for the first time in 22 years of my married life my husband went to a boutique picked the material and had a suit made for me. It's beautiful, it fits perfectly and I am wearing it today," Nasima enthused. "But really the best birthday gift my husband could give me is my daughter. Nothing can top that. My wish for her is that she can one day be the world's number 1 player. I believe she can."

Source: http://sports.indiatimes.com/Surprise_birthday_party_for_Sania/articleshow/2544303.cms

Sania Hopes To Make Top 20 In 2008

Out of action due to a stomach injury, Sania Mirza hopes to improve her performance in the 2008 season and make the top 20 of the WTA rankings.

"I am playing my best and will strive to achieve a ranking of 20 before the end of the 2008 season," Sania said at promotional event here on Wednesday.

The 32-ranked player tried to avoid questions on the issue of match-fixing in the men’s circuit saying, "it does not happen in the women’s circuit to my knowledge. I have not experienced any such instances. If it is happening on the ATP circuit, it is not good for the game. I am not that experienced to make any comment on such things."

On Justine Henin’s domination on the WTA circuit, Sania said, "Henin is a lady Federer. She is what Federer (Roger) is on the men’s circuit. She is a terror for all players and she wins whatever tournament that she competes in."

Sania Climbs Up In Doubles Ranking

Sania Mirza moved up one place in the doubles ranking to the 18th position, while she clung on to the 32nd place for the fourth consecutive week in the singles chart of the latest WTA rankings.

The 20-year-old Hyderabadi, who has been out of the circuit because of a stomach injury, will be back in action in the Hopman Cup along with upcoming Rohan Bopanna.

Meanwhile, in the ATP rankings there were no significant movements as all the Indians managed to hold to their previous week positions.

In the previous week, Bopanna slipped one place to take the 261st spot, while Prakash Amritraj clung on to his 271th place.

Another Indian, Sunil Kumar Sipaeya, after his good performance in the 10,000 dollars ITF grass court event in Lahore, last week jumped a whooping 34 places to take the 561st spot.

In the doubles ATP rankings too, the movement was static with veteran Leander Paes holding on to his last week's four place jump to the 13th position and Mahesh Bhupathi also managing to retain his 21st spot.

Sania Mirza's Other Calling

Tennis star Sania Mirza on her time off is doing more than just relaxing. Sania is to appear in an ad campaign of her home town Hyderabad's municipal corporation, designed to motivate voters to seek voter Id cards. Sania joins cricketer V V S Laxman and a host of celebrities, who will feature in the campaign over the next one month.

Sania Mirza is on a different turf these days, practicing her lines before her take. Sania's appeal is towards the voters in Hyderabad, requesting them to get their photo-identity voter's Id cards. This ad campaign for the city's municipal corporation, will be on air over the next one month on various local television channels.

As Sania Mirza quotes, "When you do something for others, it comes out naturally." Responding to the question of whether she possesses a voter Id card, Mirza states that, "No, I did not get the time but now I will apply."

Lending his voice for this cause, was another Hyderabadi sportsperson, V V S Laxman emerging fresh from the County Cricket victory and ready for the Ranji series.

As per the available statistics, just 25% of Hyderabad's electorate took pains to get photo Id cards last time during the elections. During the current drive to issue photo cards, these 60 second spots include appeals made by a host of celebrities from across the world sports and the entertainment world living in the city, that is surely going to fetch in genuine voters and eliminate the illegal nationals getting voter cards by proxy.

Election authorities in Hyderabad are really hoping that, this ad campaign would make all the difference in the state.

Source: http://www.timesnow.tv/NewsDtls.aspx?NewsID=4078

Sania Mirza Out To Enjoy Break

An abrupt injury-enforced pullout from the final leg of the season is proving to be a blessing in disguise for Sania Mirza.

After returning home in mid-October after a stomach muscle injury, the 20-year-old said she is enjoying life away from the tennis courts.

"It's after two years that I got a long break and I want to enjoy every bit of it. I don't want to think about tennis now," Sania told TOI on Wednesday.

She described her comeback after a career threatening injury earlier this year as one of the best moment in her life. "Doing very well after the knee injury in February was great. I feel it was one of the best moments in my life."