Sania bats for conversation around an athlete’s mental health

As someone who has opened up about dealing with mental health issues in the past, tennis star Sania Mirza feels that conversations about maintaining both physical and mental wellness for players is important. “There is a lot of conversation about mental health, which is good,” shares Mirza.

Noting how a lot of sporting icons are discussing matters of mental health, the 34year-old says it is amazing to see them be so open about their mental well being.

“A lot of high profile players and athletes are coming out and saying they are not okay. People sometimes forget that athletes are regular humans too and also feel mental pressure, not just physical,” notes Mirza.

Tennis player Naomi Osaka withdrew from the French Open to tend to her mental health, England cricketer Ben Stokes withdrew from a series to prioritise his mental health after a tough last few and American gymnastics star Simone Biles had opted out of five of the six finals at the Tokyo Olympics for the same reason. “Everybody has their own way of dealing with mental health issues. Personally, I think it is brave of them to come out and speak about the issue that they have,” she adds.

Currently in New York for the US Open, Mirza says playing and touring in the pandemic world is challenging. “We always have our masks on and are tested on a regular basis every two to three days. It is what we have to do to compete and travel the world,” she says. Accompanying her on her tours is her two-year-old son, Izhaan. “It is difficult to be in this position. Having said that it is still a privilege for us to travel the world and play,” she concludes.

Sania Mirza