Sports India

Had it not been for Sania Mirza, Women’s Day this year would be the same as last. Or Women’s Day as observed by the Confederation of Indian Industry.

At the CII women’s conference held today at a suburban hotel in Mumbai, women achievers from the corporate world congregated for the second consecutive year.

But since they are limited in number and tend to get recycled every Woman’s Day on the same platforms, Sania, who has climbed to world rank 77 following the Dubai Open, made a difference.

While in previous years, women leaders have held forth on education, employment and empowerment, they had to listen to Sania this time about the necessity of corporate sponsors coming out to fund sports the real way so that more girls like her, or fresh talent like shooter Rajyavardhan Rathore, could come up.

“The right kind of support and training is essential and it is only when companies come forward that we will see more tennis players, more cricket players and more Rathores in the making,” she said.

Sania said she has been “plain lucky” to be sponsored at 13 when she was a non-entity. “Today, there are more companies coming forward to sponsor, not necessarily because they are interested in the sport but more for the mileage they would earn out of it,” she added.

Now the fear is that things won’t change and Sania will make the same speech next year.

For women who usually don’t get to speak at CII events there was hope from an unlikely corner. Central Railway, acting on a suggestion from an NGO, agreed to instal more lights at stations to ensure women’s safety.

The eve of Women’s Day was a day off from work for some women from the red-light areas in south Mumbai, who went on a picnic with an NGO.

But for most others, the day will probably be the same.

J.W. Marriott is again the venue for an event that will draw a pool of women achievers from showbiz.

The same who’s who from the entertainment world — Diya Mirza, Zeenat Aman, Mahima Chaudhuri, Yukta Mookhey and Smriti Irani — will grace the party.

Having re-written many a record in the last two months, Sania Mirza is set to become only the fourth tennis player to have a signature line of her own.

The 18-year-old on Sunday became the brand ambassador of Lotto Sport Italia and the company said it would soon launch a signature line series. Only Andre Agassi, Steffi Graf and Stefan Edberg have a signature line of their own.

There was double delight for Sania as her ranking went up to No. 77 following her Dubai Open exploits.

Did you ever think that India’s star hockey player Gagan Ajit Singh would turn a global brand ambassador for Indian handicrafts?

Hold your breath!

But one would question the choice for the obvious reasons. Why a sportsperson, and not a fashion designer, or an actor or a textile honcho?

For Ajay Kumar, additional DC, Handicrafts, Ministry of Textiles, “It’s a new concept. In our opinion, artisans and craftspersons are of the same stature as heroes from fields like sports, entertainment, et al.”

Echoing Kumar’s sentiments, Sunil Kalra of Percept Profile, the company which has joined hands with the ministry to promote Indian handicrafts and artisans in a big way in the international markets said “Sportspersons are real-life achievers and 35 per cent of them come from far-flung areas. Why, our current hockey captain is from a tribal area,’’ said Kalra, adding that Gagan is an outstanding sportsperson, who will create awareness nationally and globally about Indian handicrafts.”

Citing reasons, Kalra said a cricket player would have added glamour but in an overpowering fashion. Hence the deliberate selection of Gagan Ajit Singh who will be the mainstay in their advertisements, campaigns, shows, conferences and its mega campaign.

Gagan on the other hand is ready to don the fashion mantle and says he’s comfortable in a bright kurta and lungi, complete with a traditional headgear. Taking up responsibility as a brand ambassador, Gagan says he’s an appreciator of Indian art and culture and is looking forward to his new role.

Gagan prides in the fact that he loves to wear Rohit Bal designed chikan kurtas.

So, while he promotes handicrafts of India, his hockey stick can wait a little while more, off the field.

As Narain Karthikeyan signed autographs for fans in Melbourne’s Albert Park following his Formula One debut on Sunday morning, around 200 supporters in Calcutta left INOX, City Centre, satisfied at being able to watch from afar an Indian make history.

The young man from Coimbatore recruited for the Jordan Toyota team may have finished 15th at the Australian Grand Prix, but his breakthrough caused a shift of gears for sports fans in the city.

Formula One — globally a sport with big fans and bigger bucks — has entered what is usually the reserve of high-profile cricket or football events.

Though turnout was high (fans did get up early to make their way to Screen One of the multiplex on a Sunday morning), it was a low-key affair.

There was no cheering, though Karthikeyan, who said he was happy just to have completed the 302-km race, came in for some praise from the commentators.

Only when Renault’s Giancarlo Fisichella finished ahead of the pack was there restrained applause.

But after the warm response to the screening of the first F1 race of the season, the organisers are keen to continue, with the Malaysian Grand Prix on March 20 next in line.

“We want to move away from screening sports like cricket and football because that is what everyone does nowadays,” explains Subhasis Ganguli, INOX City Centre general manager.

Tennis — riding on the Sania Mirza crest — is also a possibility the multiplex is considering for future screenings, but for the moment, it’s Formula One.

“In Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore, F1 has been very popular even before Karthikeyan arrived on the scene. We expect a similar response in Calcutta,” adds Ganguli.

It may still be a niche sport, but it is a niche where the money is.

Calcutta Motor Sports Club members were present in numbers at the special screening. The club has organised such events in the past at star hotels and clubs. “The interest has always been there in the city, but last year, we had a much poorer turnout,” admits club chairman Ravi Kumar.

His nine-year-old daughter was also one of the eager spectators. “Narain is good, but I am a Ferrari fan,” says Rika. “Schumacher is good and that Alonso guy is okay.”

Five-year-old Sanaika may not have been aware of the import of the country finally finding a place on the F1 world map, but she had fun watching with her family.

For now, it seems, it’s all eyes on Karthikeyan.

Quite aware of the pressure on Narain Karthikeyan, Sachin Tendulkar avoided calling him up before his F1 debut. But he did wake up early this morning to catch the live Grand Prix action from Melbourne.

Talking to The Indian Express, Tendulkar said that the sight of the young Indian driver in his tri-colour helmet — with a Ashok Chakra top — sent his pulses racing despite being miles away. But ironically, when Tendulkar walks out to bat during the first Test match against Pakistan starting Tuesday his own helmet will be without the tri-colours or the chakra.

A recent government directive, which was passed to the players by the BCCI, bars the players from the use of tri-colour or the chakra on helmets. This has left Tendulkar disappointed.

‘‘I don’t think there is anything wrong in wearing the national colours. To be representing India is a matter of great honour. We feel extremely motivated by that. In no ways one even thinks of disrespecting one’s flag. It is there because we feel extremely special having those colours on our helmet. And it is extremely disappointing not to wear it,’’ he said.

On a more positive note, Tendulkar said that it was refreshing to see the likes of Karthikeyan and Sania Mirza making their mark internationally. ‘‘It’s good for our country. It is always very thrilling to watch a sport where some Indian is participating. You naturally support them and you get emotional about it,’’ he said.

Admitting that clay is not her favourite surface, tennis sensation Sania Mirza on Monday said that she will play some tournaments on clay before the French open.

“Clay is not my favourite surface but I will be playing some tournaments so that I will be in perfect shape for the French Open", Sania told reporters here on the sidelines of a function.

“As far as playing on grass is concerned I have won junior Wimbledon (doubles) title and I think that will not be a major problem", Sania said.

She said that she was working on her aim to be in top 50 WTA rankings by year end.

On her ankle which she twisted at the Dubai Open, Sania said “my ankle is not that bad as I thought. I have been advised some rest but I think it will be fine and I might start playing again within a week.”

About tournaments in which she will be participating, Sania, currently ranked 77th in the world following her quarterfinal appearance at the Dubai Open, said she will be playing at Miami later this month and go to France to play some tournaments before tuning up for the Federartion Cup in Delhi.

On her high-profile match with former World No 1 Serena Williams in the third round of Australian open, Sania said, “I felt a bit nervous before entering the court which is natural for an youngster who is facing player of Serena’s calibre. But as the match progressed, I became more confident.”

The excessive adulation being showered upon Sania Mirza, apart from being a typically knee-jerk Indian phenomenon, is understandable given the fact that international glory does not come our way often enough.

The history of Indian sport is replete with instances of success going to the head of our sportsmen, the latest, sad manifestation being All England badminton champion Pulella Gopichand, who has done almost nothing of note since being idolised in almost every nook and cranny of the country after winning the crown.

Even after due allowance is made for 18-year old Sania’s patent level-headedness, her family and managers would be well-advised to shield her from what is undeniably excessive media exposure.

Without taking anything away from the winsome budding champion’s talent and temperament as evidenced by recent performances, the fact remains that she has a long, long way to go before she appears on the radar of international tennis, in which teenagers abound, as a player of any real consequence.

One cannot help but be concerned about Sania’s susceptibility to injury at a tender age. And, the sooner she sheds her puppy fat, the better.

Supreme physical fitness is an imperative pre-requisite in any sport. It seems Sania and those who manage her affairs have yet to come to terms with this immutable precept.

As Sania Mirza continues to take Indian women’s tennis to uncharted heights, there’s one man who’s watching proudly, knowing he played a part. Cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar was among those instrumental in getting Sania a wild card for the event.

Shyam Bhatia, an Indian sports-loving businessman in Dubai, got a request from Sania’s aunt for a wild card. Bhatia took the opinion of his long-time friend Gavaskar. The former India captain told him that Sania could be a crowd-puller, with Dubai teeming with Indian ex-pats.

Bhatia then requested Abdul Falaknaz, prominent businessman and sports organiser and architect of Dubai Sports City, who said he knew the organisers and could organise the wild card. And thus the fairy tale was scripted.

Anil Nair, CEO, Sports Brand media group who are the telecasters, confirmed from Dubai the request made by Gavaskar.

“I got a call in Australia from Sunny. I forwarded the request to the tournament director, Salah Tahlak and Colm McLouglin of Dubai Duty Free who own the event. They awarded three wild cards. One to Conchita Martinez, another to a Tunisian and the third to Sania. No one regrets it,” he understated.

Sania scripted history by beating a top ten women’s star Kuznetsova before losing to an unseeded Serbian Jankovic.

Had she won she would have met Serena Williams all over again.