Saina vs Sania

My first post of 2009 had to be on Indian sports. With 2008 being a golden year for Indian sports, I thought this was the best topic to write on. The title would have given it away that I am comparing two sportspersons - the young and highly talented Hyderabadi girls, Saina Nehwal and Sania Mirza.

Saina Nehwal, the younger of the two, was born on 17th March 1990 in the city of the Nizams. Currently, she is badminton's world number 10. She is the reigning national junior champion and is following the footsteps of her coach Pullela Gopichand, yet another illustrious son of India. In 2008, she won the World Junior Badminton Championship. Saina is the only Indian woman to reach the semi-finals of the Olympics (in the 2008 edition). She is also a Dronacharya award winner has also been named as the most promising player in 2008.

Sania Mirza, born on 15th November 1986 in Mumbai, spent her

 growing years in Hyderabad, just like Saina. She won the 2003 Wimbledon girls' doubles championship. 2007 was her best year, with her finishing 8th in the Australian Open singles. She fared better in the doubles (partnering Mahesh Bhupati) and mixed doubles (partnering Bethanie Mattek-Sands), reaching the quarters in both the events. In 2005, she became the first Indian woman to win a WTA championship. A recipient of the Arjuna award, Sania has been out of action in the recent times due to injury. Her rapid ascent to the top 50 in the tennis world gave her instant stardom. But her slump thereafter and injury has led her to remain off the court until the recent Australian Open, where she has lost in the second round of the singles event.

Now you wonder what led me to write this post. In a recent interview, the 18-year old Saina said that she currently is working towards being in the top 10 in the world by the end of 2009. Sania on the other hand, who has flattered to deceive seems scratchy and a fair distance from regaining the glory that she was once showered with. Circa 2006, Sania claimed that she will get into the top 20 in the next two years. Poor form coupled with an injury has hindered her progress.

Many sportsperson suffer for stress related injuries and the healing process takes considerable time. But those who have taken this time off their favourite sport and ensured their 100% fitness have come back stronger, fitter and better at their game. Zaheer Khan is a perfect example.

Initial success has to be backed by consistent performance. To sustain that performance, one needs to have the attitude of Arjuna, who could only see the eye of the bird. He was an  unparalleled archer and this he became by practice, and practice alone. Winning is a habit and it comes only with hard work and dedication. A Sachin Tendulkar or a Brian Lara did not become great players by just stating their goals.

I definitely see Saina working towards her goal, mainly because she seems intent only on playing her sport and not on featuring in newspapers and magazines as another celebrity. Sania, on the other hand, is usually visible in social and glamour dos than on the court. Even when she was injury-free, she made more headlines off the court than on it. The controversy of a muslim wearing a skirt and showing her legs was surely not her problem as much as it was that of the orthodoxy in the community. But her multiple losses after being touted as a world-beater was very much her own doing. Lack of intent and preparedness and probably a touch of overconfidence has brought about her to this downslide.

Being romantically linked with cricketers and models has not helped her in any way, and thankfully, Saina seems to be out of that net for now. If only the media spares her long enough to ensure she is able to concentrate on her sport, I am sure she will achieve the heights she has set for herself.

My angst is against those sportspersons who think they are greater than the game. Every sport, as those who have played at any level will know, has it's own way of bringing you crashing down to the ground, the moment you think you are the ultimate! Both the girls need to keep this in mind and not get overwhelmed with the eye of the media on them.

Play your sport well, practice hard and play hard. Once the world notices that you are a fighter, irrespective of you losing a game, you will win respect. That is what a sportsperson should play for. Respect, which ofcourse will grow if you win consistently, but we know that isn't a cakewalk, especially in global sports. An Australia did not dominate cricket forever. It's hard work through the 80s and 90s made it a top team for almost two decades. Michael Jordan did not become a hero overnight. Roger Federer did not have a two-year winning streak because of good luck. Dedication, hard work and single mindedness only pays! Sania could do well to concentrate only on tennis for the next few years in her life. A sportsperson's career is short-lived. They have to achieve a lot in very little time. There is time after it for everything else.

An interesting fact that I came across while I was looking for photographs of Sania and Saina to put on this post. I came across Saina's pictures, most of which were of her playing badminton. No glamour, no social dos, just plain, sweaty, in-action pictures. Pictures of Sania, on the other hand,  were mainly glamour shots, or shots on the court, which did not focus on her play as much as it did on her skirt and other features.

Yes, I would blame the media more than I would blame Sania for this, but there is never smoke without fire. Steffi Graf and Martina Hingis, both, infinitely clicked more than Sania, definitely were known more for their game than for their glamour and glamourous they both were.

Saina, it would be great if you continue to maintain your poise and win more glory and fame through your sport. Sania, I wish you do the same and win many more tournaments for India and regain our respect and love. And incase you forgot, your Russian clone Anna Kournikova - never won a major title in her short tennis career!