Watched the live telecast of second round match of the Wimbledon Championships between Sania Mirza & Svetlana Kuznetsova. What a match it was. Until the final game, the match was unpredictable and its a very long time since I watched such a tennis match. 2 hours very well spent. It is not very often you get to watch an Indian play in those famous lawns.
BBC commentators were going gaga about Sania and went on to say that she would soon be in the top 25 rankings, if she carries on the way she does now. Wonder what they would have said if Sania’s opponent had been a British lass. This is the first time I have watched Sania in TV and she does look pretty. Period. For people (some bloggers I don’t remember) who were crowning her as a beauty queen only next to Aish, I have one question: Where are you guys from? Afghanistan??
In the meanwhile, I did something which I seldom do. Normally, I hate entering into TV/Internet lucky dip competitions, though I have done that twice before and to my surprise – got a Swiss watch once (ahem!) and tickets to watch the movie ‘Dum Dum Dum’ along with actor Madhavan, which I never used. But, BBC’s prize of two tickets for the Women’s Finals next Saturday was too tempting and I gave in. I have watched a match in Centre Court before along with my friend – a rain curtailed mixed doubles one involving Mahesh Bhupathi in 2001. But watching that Sharapova girl play is a different one altogether.
I have seen her beat svetlana in dubai open. She plays really well but lacks consistency!!!
Sania after aish.. No way! second on my list is sharapova!!!
Sorgamey endraalum sharapova pola varumaa!!!
It indeed makes us very proud to see Indians shining in the world arena. I saw a programme about Cliff Richard’s charity promoting tennis in schools in UK. Similarly, there should be sponsors promoting all sorts of games in Indian schools….not just dumping all their money on the cricket stars. There should be a fund setup by our cricketers whereby the put back some money into the community. Lets hope that Sania mirza will set the trail ablaze for the rest to follow.
Vijay, Gavaskar and everybody else was appreciating Sania Mirza y’day. And Indeed, she deserves it. But it was unfortunate she couldn’t make it finally..
BTW.. when will you get to know, whether you have won those two tickets or not?
Ram, at this stage, I think it doesn’t really matter whether she wins or not. What really matters is her participation. With so many restraints and bureaucratic delays inevitable in India, it is highly commendable that people like Sania and Narain are able to swim against the tide and participate in the international arena.
Moreover, she has just started her career. She has a long way to go. We haven’t seen the best of her as yet.
I have a dream. Why don’t we all plough in some money and set up a sports/educational fund in a school of our choice….which will provide scholarship for young aspirants? May be we can setup something like UK-tamil fund for schools. What do you all think about it? Maybe we can even scout around for sponsorships once we streamline the plan.
ioiio – Yesterday was the first time I saw Svetlana play… lot of errors, but she did play well to stage a comeback. Its not for nothing that shes world no. 5
Few mths back when Sania won Hyderabad Open, ppl were praising Sania like anything… esp for her good looks… hmm… wat to say!
Sharapova – u r spot on mate!
Brindha – I wonder whether there is a comprehensive government policy on Sports in India.. Sports at the grass root level should be encouraged and not the other way round.
Few years back, there was a talk abt Tax concessions to corporates sponsoring sporting events. I am not sure whether that plan got implemented or not.
I feel that its wrong to point our fingers on Cricket for all our sporting ills. The corporates would obviously invest on something from where they could gain maximum mileage and at the moment only cricket pays. Even in Cricket, do u think anyone gives a damn for the domestic tournaments.. its only the National Team that attracts this much attention.
Ram.C – It was sad to see her lose after a great fight back. Hope she makes it better next time.
I think i’ll get to know abt the fate of the tickets during the weekend.
Brindha – As you say, there are lot of expectations on her at the moment. Its better to leave her alone instead of subjecting her to intense scrutiny. But, its easier said than done.
About the Sports/Educational Fund – sorry if i sound, discouraging. It is not as easy as it sound. It needs lot of effort & time to do something worthwhile. I tried to do something on a smaller level few years back, but couldn’t find the time & energy to carry it further. May be if more ppl think on the same lines, we could think of something. We could very well talk abt that.
When everyone talks about Sania, Sharapova and Svetlana, let me touch the reference made on Narain(!) Respecting his abilities to swim across to reach his current position, one of the factors that made him do this is his sound financial background. There may be more ‘Narain’s in India minus money. They need to drive only on our roads till some miracle happens in the sports arena of our country…
btw, well said S
Subha
Thanks for your comments.
I hate to talk politics here.. but without going deep into what you hav said, I feel that there is nothing wrong in sitting cross legged before Sonia Gandhi. After all, Sania Mirza isn’t a minister in Central govt.
Sriram –
> There may be more ‘Narain’s in India minus money. – Very true.
Chakra,
Let us know if you win… So you gonna watch Sharapova live!!:) Cool… But ippo ethana pasangaloda vayatherichala kottinkkareenga theriyuma??;-) It would be an unimaginable number…:D
What if the final is Serena vs Kim Clijsters??:-P (wonder if they are in different draws)
I’d prefer a ticket to the men’s finals anyday… watching Fed play would be magical na!
Enna irunthaalum ANNA KOURNI-akkov maathiri varuma???
nice one on tennis!Sania looks smart but ain’t beautiful.Media goves over publicity and I feel she gives into that pressure.But one day she’s definitely going to rule.
Nithya –
> So you gonna watch Sharapova live! – not sure abt it.. wd get to know only over the wknd.
Sharapova & Serena are in the same draw and Kim is in the other side.. u can chk that here..
http://www.wimbledon.org/en_GB/scores/draws/ws/r2s2.html
Watching Fed wd be a treat indeed.. but Sharapova madhiri varuma?
)
solla pona, the very ambience would be lovely.. whether u watch Men’s finals or Women’s, it is immaterial.
Nakkal – andha akkov daan full-time model aayitaangale..
Anjali – Its too much pressure to heap on a 18 yr old. Nevertheless, she has to learn to live with it.
> I feel that there is nothing wrong in sitting cross legged before Sonia Gandhi. After all, Sania Mirza isn’t a minister in Central govt.
No there is nothing wrong in sitting cross legged even if she is a minister.. After all she is just a minister!!!
ioiio -
> No there is nothing wrong in sitting cross legged even if she is a minister.. After all she is just a minister!!!
– I agree with the “nothing wrong” part… but try doing that before Sonia and u’ll know the consequences.
she plays well no doubt, but with the media publicity i wonder if she will go the anna kournikova way, talent that is wasted. sania is already associated with lotto and HP, with lotto being a new brand in india she will have a heavy promotional load. and secondly as i had said earlier sports is a rags to riches story, she has the money comin in now, a few good performances, and she will always remain in public memory, and therefore campagins (till the next sania mizra is born which is a long time away). in this case when she gets easy money why does she have to slog it out on court? for national recognisition? i don think that is a strong enough motive. only areas where indians excel are sports which have no recognisition like billiards (pankaj advani won both the time and points format in thw world championships, but is not known) or chess (where harikrishna had to pull a stunt to get sponsorship – he said he was retiring when his career was climbing and then the andhra govt funded him).
for once nanum ioiio chakra vum ore katchi. beauty, drop dead gorgeous, lakshanam edhukellam ore meaning – sherapova.
sania, partha varikum she looks ok. guys imagine venus williams…avlo dhaan solluven. serena is lookable than venus. che peru type adikkum bodhe kai ellam nadungudhu…
Nirmal shekhar, my fav sports columnist went gaga over her pefromance y’day. but the fact is she lost. period. 2nd round exit is an exit. avlo dhaan.
quarters na semis finals na perumayaa sollalaam.
i dont understand this cross legged samacharam.
subha, nee yen feel agare? cross legged avalukku sowgaryam na utkarnthuttu pogatume.. and btw subha, vazhkayile oru serious comment muyarchi panniruke.
Narain range vera. as a coimbatorean i should know. He belongs to the family which runs PSG tech boss.
avan alavukku vaippu ellam ellarukkum kedaikadhu.
and avan f1 race la 22, 16,18 ellam vandhuttu,- “i feel very happy” nu sollaradhai niruthanum. i am not happy.
koncha nalaiku appuram vintage chakra post…
srivatsan
what u say is mostly true. but i can name one exception – sachin. he was a sensation right from his teen yrs. he made more money thru ads than all the players put together. but he has never allowed his peformance to dip bcos of money. ippo he is not the same player- ads or no ads. avlo dhaan. that sachin is by and large gone. but he can stilll manage 80% strike rate without any power strokes. age is catching up. not that good in playing on the rise shots as he used to be- milliseconds make the difference between sensational shot and a rash one.
i feel sorry for this guy. i also feel he will make a statement and will bow out in his own terms. guts and self belief – that fellow has that in plenty.
At the end its the self belief that make great players. i dont think sampras played for money after winning his first few tournaments. He played for pride. he wanted to be the best ever to have taken the racquet. after a point a good sportsman thinks about becoming an all time great. an immortal.
average players who take it up as a profession are well… average.
Clijsters – Sharapova would be my bet
chakra, unga wife veetuku vandhappram ungaluku kattayam thittu irukunnu me thinks…oru range-la poradhu unga posts ellam
Sania and beauty queen? Avalo thaan! nam ooru-la avaloda careerku fullstop vachuduvaanga! advt. la pottu pottu!
Srivatsan – Looks like money is a double edged sword.
Was wondering about the name of the guy who pulled a stunt to get sponsorship. Ah.. you hav mentioned.. Harikrishna. Thanks for that.
Lets hope for the best – ie., Sania to excel and not go the Kournikova way!
Prabu Karthik – comparing with Williams sisters.. hahahaha.. couldn’t stop laughing.
Subha feels too bad abt sitting cross legged… what to do.
> koncha nalaiku appuram vintage chakra post… – idhula onnum kurachal illa.
dumbs – me too think so!
CM – en wife marandhu pona kooda neenga nyabagapaduthama vida maateenga polirukku? Also, thalaikku mela vellam poyaachu.. vangi kattika poradhu ennavo nichayam… inime enna..
Gayathri – We’ll get to know that in coupla more years.. this wd be the period of growth for her. Lets see how she handles that.
Now, I want to know why you didnot use those movie tickets…….a movie with madhavan? Interesting chap…you could know him:((
Sania and her nose ring……..all over the sport section
Now, I want to know why you didnot use those movie tickets…….a movie with madhavan? Interesting chap…you could know him:((
Sania and her nose ring……..all over the sport section
Archana – at last someone asked abt that!
Well.. i was in Switzerland that time when i was offered the tickets. They tried to reach me only on the day of the show. Can’t help it anyway. No regrets.
We need more people like her to improve the sport in India. Actually after she’s got all this publicity, people have started to take note of this sport, which is a very good thing.
All Sania needs to do is maintain her fitness levels to keep scaling greater heights
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