Sports India

Papa Mirza has a problem — with shooting star Sania’s short skirts and shorter shorts

Imran is not too happy that pictures of his pretty 18-year-old in all manner of poses and clothes are being splashed all over the front and back pages of newspapers.

Not that the newspapers can be blamed, though. Indian tennis’s latest sensation turns out in the most stunning of outfits: at the Dubai Open quarters earlier this month, she sported tight black shorts and a skin-hugging flaming red tank top, with a matching red visor.

Again at the Hyderabad Open in February, the colours were in place but the combination was reversed: tight black tanktop, red skirt and matching red visor.

But while watching the Hyderabad Open, Imran said, he was shocked his daughter could arouse such madness.

So, the whip has fallen on the tennis dress code: Papa Mirza now wants players’ clothes on court to be cut according to his modest code.

“I wish the dress code for tennis players is made to conform more to the Indian cultural ethos. I wish something is done by the Women’s Tennis Association,” Imran said today.

He claimed many friends — Muslims, Hindus and Christians — had told him the dress code was a “deterrent” preventing them from letting their daughters play tennis.

“I have studied the tennis rule books. It does not say anything about wearing mini skirts and skin-tight tops,” he said, unwittingly touching on the years-old debate on why women tennis players wear skirts and not shorts.

Why the women, and Sania herself, choose to wear skirts is anybody’s guess. Nowhere in the WTA rules are skirts mentioned: they forbid sweatshirts, sweat pants, T-shirts, jeans and cut-offs but do not touch on skirts.

“I need to talk to Sania on the subject first,” Imran said. “I have found that many players wear full sleeves and bigger skirts. Slovak Daniela Hantuchova is an example.”

Sania was not available for comment today. But in a recent interview to a television channel, she had said: “Maybe the dresses I wear are not exactly right, but I guess Islam does have forgiveness. I don’t know if I am doing anything wrong… I am sure God will forgive me.”

The craze for Sania Mirza continues as entries for tennis tournaments in the city see an all-time high

That tennis has increased radically in popularity all over India is well known. But kids playing tennis in Pune are also giving a thumbs up to Sania as girls and even boys seem to have just one ambition - “Playing like Sania.”

This has been proven by around three hundred entries for the Royal Boat Club Tennis tournament, organised by the Maharashtra State Lawn Tennis Association (MSLTA) has attracted this year. This is almost twice the numbers over the last twelve years. Organisers and the participants confirm the trend is entirely because of Sania.

The tournament had entries from various parts of Pune. Taking inspiration from Sania, 11-year-old Aishwarya practises tennis two hours daily and wants to become an international tennis player just like her idol.

PSI Ravindra Rokde has been training his daughter, Apoorva, now six years old, since she was three. Setting before her the example of Serena Williams, he wants her to represent India in the field of tennis internationally. Apoorva, after having seen Sania’s fight against Serena, has found a new idol. She took part in the tournament for the first time and won in the under eight category.

Sanaya Baldota, who is 11 years old, and a big fan of Sania, admires her fighting spirit and has a room full of her posters.

Vidit Thakkar, who is eight years of age, and idolises Ande Rodericks, feels all Indian girls should be able to play like Sania Mirza.

Sammy Khambatta, the secretary of The Boat Club, believes the inclination of kids to the tournament this year is definitely because of Sania Mirza. “Her match being televised has brought tennis to the forefront,” he avers.

Sant Singh Mokha, the chairperson for sports, RCBC also holds similar views. “Sania together with Bhupati and Paes are drawing kids to tennis,” he says adding that with proper facilities, even these kids can be match-winners.