75 years of independence, 75 iconic moments of Indian sport: Issue 35 – January 18, 2020: Sania Mirza wins 42nd WTA doubles title 15 months after giving birth
India will complete 75 years of Independence this year. Here is a series of 75 great sports achievements of Indian athletes. Sports star will showcase an iconic sporting achievement every day, through August 15, 2022.
January 18, 2020: Sania Mirza wins her 42nd WTA doubles title 15 months after giving birth
As the comeback unfolded, she wrote the script for the mother of all comebacks in Indian sports.
Sania, who gave birth to her son Izhaan in October 2018, decided to give tennis again. And what that shot turned out to be!
She won her 42nd WTA doubles title at Hobart International in January 2020 on Nadiia Kichenok’s team. Proud and eager to represent the country, she decided to lead India’s Fed Cup competition. She scored three important doubles victories and, together with Ankita Raina, led the team to the Fed Cup fi, the first in India’s history.
Her doubles titles this decade include three women’s titles, three Grand Slam mixed doubles titles and two WTA Tour Finals titles. At the 2016 Rio Olympics, she and partner Rohan Bopanna advanced to the semi-finals before bowing.
As an inspiration to the younger generation, Sania’s impact on Indian tennis is not only in terms of the crowns she has won, but also in the faith and performance she has shown in the competition. world school.
Grand Slams: Mixed Doubles – Australian Open 2009, French Open 2012, US Open 2014
Doubles – Wimbledon 2015, US Open 2015, Australian Open 2016
[This profile was first published in the Sportstar issue dated February 20, 2021]