Sania Mirza World

Sania Mirza has recaptured her wiry frame and looks hungry, but she is in no hurry to return to the professional tennis circuit. “The season is over. I am happy with the recovery,” Sania said.

India’s best-ever woman tennis player, ranked 27 in singles and 18 in doubles around the same time last year, is in the Capital to seek the guidance of a doctor who has already won her confidence by speeding up the recovery of her wrist.

During the Olympics in Beijing in August, the 21-year-old Sania had been troubled by pain on her wrist that had undergone surgery earlier in the season. The pain was in a new part of the wrist and needed fresh diagnosis. She was forced to take rest and seek professional advice.

“It was tough to diagnose for the doctors. There was even a suggestion that it may require another surgery. We even feared that I could play only in December. (Cricketer) Yuvraj Singh suggested a doctor here, and I am glad that I have already been able to hit thrice in the last 10 days,” Sania said after a brief training session with former champion Radhika Tulpule, a member of the coaching panel for the Commonwealth Games, at the DLTA courts here on Saturday.

It is a nightmare for every sportsperson to go through spells of injury that prove stumbling blocks especially in the path of a successful career, and Sania herself may not have been quite enthused about slipping in the rankings during the long period of inaction.

Yet, it has been a blessing in disguise as she has worked hard on her fitness which is very evident, and is bound to pay dividends once she returns to the circuit.

“I don’t want to hurry anything. I am prepared to play even the Challengers by December to get ready for the next season. Everything depends on how well my wrist shapes up. Touch wood, things look to be on the right track,” said Sania, who restricted herself to a light hitting session, a few serves, apart from going through the strengthening exercises of her wrists with the support of her mother Naseema.

For the kids and parents present at the venue, who were busy with the National tennis championship, it was special to find Sania practicing in one of the courts.

Some ventured up to her enthusiastically and politely requested for a photo and the Hyderabad player obliged with her beaming smile.

Perhaps, it is time to win some goodwill! — Special Correspondent