Sania Mirza said goodbye to her career from the same stadium where she started her career

Hyderabad. India’s tennis great Sania Mirza on Sunday ended her illustrious journey as an athlete with ‘tears of happiness’ from where she began. Sania finally bid farewell to her path-breaking journey by playing exhibition matches at the Lal Bahadur Tennis Stadium where she signaled her arrival on the big stage nearly two decades ago with a historic WTA singles title. These exhibition matches included Rohan Bopanna, Yuvraj Singh and his best friend Bethanie Mattek-Sands, Ivan Dodig, Cara Black and Marian Bartoli.

Among those who arrived to watch the exhibition matches were Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju, former Indian cricket team captain Mohammad Azharuddin, Yuvraj Singh, Robin Uthappa, Ananya Birla, Huma Qureshi, Dulquer Salmaan, their fans, family, friends, sports personalities and Sania Mirza Tennis Academy students. Thirty-six-year-old Sania arrived at the stadium in a red car and was greeted with applause by the audience, including several eminent personalities. Sania became emotional in her farewell speech, saying that the biggest honor for her has been to play for the country for 20 years.

The six-time Grand Slam winner (three in women’s doubles and three in mixed doubles) played two mixed doubles exhibition matches and won both. Sania has won many memorable titles here at the venue which was decorated like a festival with banners like ‘Celebrating the legacy of Sania Mirza’. Some fans were holding ‘placards’ that read ‘Thank you for the memories’ and ‘We will miss you, Sania’. The spectators, mostly school children, started ‘cheering’ as soon as Sania stepped onto the court. Before the match, Sania said, “I am very excited to play my last match in front of all of you. I always wanted to play my last match in Hyderabad in front of my home crowd and I am thankful to the Telangana government for making it happen. ,

Former sports minister Rijiju, Telangana minister KT Rama Rao, Azharuddin and Yuvraj were among the spectators present at the stadium. Rijiju said, “I have come to Hyderabad only for the farewell match of Sania Mirza. I am happy to see so many people here. Sania Mirza is an inspiration not only for Indian tennis but also for Indian sports. “He said,” When I was the Sports Minister, I used to keep in touch with him. I wish him all the best for the future. Sania’s family members and friends were also present at the stadium. Rama Rao and Telangana Sports Minister V Srinivasa Goud felicitated Sania after the match.

Thanking everyone who has supported her in her journey, Sania said, “The biggest honor for me has been to play for my country for 20 years. It is every sportsperson’s dream to represent their country at the highest level. I was successful in doing so. ”””” He said, ” I would like to thank everyone who came here. I couldn’t have asked for a better farewell. Sania got emotional after seeing the cheering of the audience. “I didn’t think I would get emotional today. But these are tears of happiness. ”””’ He said, ′′ It’s been more than 20 years since I played. A lot of things in my life started here from this stadium. It’s been a long journey. I started at a time when nobody thought tennis was an option. Be it a boy or a girl, especially for a girl from Hyderabad. Only my parents believed in me, my sister and my family. ,

Sania said, “There were people who said we couldn’t do it, we were ‘crazy’. I don’t blame him for saying that 30 years ago, no one thought we’d be standing in a stadium full of people like this. ” He said, ”Whatever I am today, my parents made me this and my sister made me this, whatever I am. Sania said that even though she has said goodbye to the sport, she will continue to be a part of tennis and sports in India and Telangana. He also hoped that the country would produce “many, many Sanias”. Azharuddin praised Sania’s contribution to tennis. “I think we are giving Sania a grand farewell today.

I think it’s a great example of what she’s done for women in tennis in India and around the world. I wish him all the best. Azruharuddin’s son is married to Sania’s younger sister. He said, “I know people wanted to see him play more. But every career has an end. I think he has taken the right decision. Many fans said that they are deeply saddened by Sania’s decision to bid adieu to professional tennis.