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When Shoaib Malik's Ex-Wife Sania Mirza Revealed She Would Rather Play Cricket & Not Tennis

image-lrn32lxzSania Mirza (Twitter)

Former India tennis star Sania Mirza recently made a surprising revelation during a conversation with Veda Krishnamurthy on JioCinema, expressing that if she were a boy, she would have chosen cricket over tennis. The 36-year-old, who recently retired from professional tennis after an illustrious career, shared insights into her early sporting preferences.

"Honestly speaking, and I know I shouldn't say this to you, but at that point of time, if I was a boy, I would probably be playing cricket. Playing sport was different, and honestly, I think because I was a girl, they were like, 'I don't think cricket is for girls.' But that's the way things were back then, 30 years ago," said Mirza.

Despite facing societal norms and expectations, Mirza defied odds and went on to become the first Indian woman to win a WTA singles title in 2005. Reflecting on her role models, she cited 22-time Grand Slam champion Steffi Graf and track and field legend PT Usha. Mirza emphasized the scarcity of prominent female athletes in India during her formative years.

"I had a role model in Steffi Graf because that was the only person. There was not really a woman athlete in our country outside of PT Usha that we could look up to growing up," added Mirza.

Having achieved a career-high ranking of world number 27, Mirza's journey in tennis has been inspirational, breaking barriers and paving the way for future generations of female athletes in India. 

As she bid farewell to professional tennis, her impact on the sport and her ability to overcome challenges remain a testament to her resilience and determination.