‘I’VE MISSED BEING AT ASIAN GAMES’

Tennis star Sania Mirza is right now busy preparing for the ‘biggest match’ of her life — motherhood

Even when heavily pregnant, tennis star Sania Mirza can’t stay away from the court. She recently shared a video, in which she’s seen hitting a few balls in her signature style. “It’s important to be active and healthy. Being a public figure, I need to pass on this message that pregnancy is empowering. It shouldn’t hold you back from doing what you love,” says the 31-year-old, whose first baby with her husband, Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik, is due to be born in October. While she misses being a part of the Jakarta Asian Games, which ends tomorrow, Sania tells us that she’s probably prepping for her “biggest match” — motherhood — and that afterwards, she hopes to return to her peak fitness level as an athlete.

Given your Instagram post (on August 17, showing her Asiad medals), it seems you’ve missed being at the Asian Games?

I’ve been participating in the Asian Games since 2002. I was 15 when I won my first medal and now I am 31, so for me, going there became a part of my life and career. I’ve won eight medals at the Asian Games, and I feel when you win a medal for your country, there’s no greater [pride] than that. So, when [the Jakarta Asian Games] started, I felt a little nostalgic — I won’t lie... I felt a little sad. Having said that, you must accept certain events in life. On Instagram, I wrote that I’m probably preparing for the biggest match of my life. So, hopefully, I can come back to playing at the level where I was. Indeed, four years [before the next Asiad] is a long time.

Your tweet on India’s gold medallist javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra’s handshake with Pakistan’s bronze winner Arshad Nadeem was touching. That has again got people talking, though you’ve clarified that your marriage has nothing to do with IndiaPakistan relations...

When you see a picture like that in today’s time, that’s how you’d react. It can happen with any other photo. And I’ve always said that sport is great education — it teaches you how to deal with losses, victory, it teaches you equality, respect for each other. And as I said, we got married because we fell in love. Nobody gets married to improve a political situation; that’s not how life works. But because we come from two different countries, and given everything that’s there, people started talking about that.

Talking about your love story, #BabyMirzaMalik was such an interesting way to announce that you’re expecting.

(Laughs) It’s not that we thought our baby would have both our surnames when we decided to have a child; this was something we always knew. I never thought of changing my name; the discussion never even came up. We’re two different individuals who’ve earned a name for themselves. So it’s only fair that I don’t let go of my roots and he doesn’t let go of his.

You recently spoke of Shoaib being a handson father already.

Like every [pregnant] woman, I’ve had my share of mood swings and it only comes out on the husband. So you’re good with most people and suddenly you are like, ‘It’s because of you (the husband) I’m having this pain (laughs).’

But he has always been a patient guy and very supportive. Even though he is playing non-stop — he’s just back from the Caribbean (Premier League) and he’ll soon be off to play the Asia Cup — he’s going through hectic travel schedules to be with me. At times, I feel guilty, but then I’m like, ‘Well I’m pregnant, so the least you could do is travel (laughs).’

How’s the family and ‘maasi’ Anam Mirza prepping up?

She’s really excited. Anam has always been the baby of the family — we’re eight years apart. She is like, ‘Now I’m going to have a baby.’ We were mentally and physically prepared, but it’s sort of the final stretch and that’s why everybody is a little nervous. After all, it’s the first baby in the family.

When the Jakarta Asian Games started, I felt a little nostalgic. I won’t lie... I felt a little sad. But you must accept certain events in life. Hopefully, I can come back to playing at the level where I was.

SANIA MIRZA

TENNIS PLAYER

PHOTO: ROHAN SHRESTHA