Sania Mirza feels the five medals that the team has managed to win at the 17th Asian Games is a good performance considering that the country’s best players opted out of the event and some of the players were playing in their first Asian Games.
“It has been a pretty good week for all of us. We (Saina and Prarthana Thombare) got a (bronze) medal in women's doubles which is a huge thing because it's something that we have never done. Being the senior-most player, I had to play the leader. We came here with a young team. It’s not the best team possible, especially with the guys. Five medals look pretty good to me.
On playing with young players
We share a good rapport and I am always there to help them. They are all of my sister's age, like babies for me. They are 7-8 years younger than me. I am sharing a room with one of them. These are the best youngsters we have had in a while. Prarthana, my doubles partner, has some potential and is still pretty young. We need to build on this. I hope this experience gives them a lot of confidence and they can achieve a lot in their lives. I’ve held this flag for a long time now. It will be great to pass it on to someone else. Hopefully by the next Asian Games, they will be ready to win a medal on their own.
On India not producing enough talent in women’s tennis
There are a few reasons. I think planning is one of them. lack of knowledge and lack of, maybe, even coaching abilities at certain levels. A lot of coaches in India don’t have what it takes to really make a contribution because they haven’t produced anyone nor have they been at that level. I’m not saying you need to be a great tennis player to be a coach, but you need to have watched at the highest level to be a good coach. The best they might have watched is the WTA event a few years ago.
On what Indian players lack in terms of performing at the highest level
Tennis has become very competitive these days. Physically also they struggle a bit. There are a bunch of reasons. I have been trying to help them with scheduling, trying to tell them which tournament to take part in. First of all they need to come out of the $25000 events. They need to try and believe they can do better at the bigger tournaments. That's where they have to perform.
You are not going to play these tournaments for the rest of your life. If you keep playing in $25000 events, you will remain in the 300 rankings for the rest of your career. That's what they have been doing, going for the easier options. It's not because they want to but because of lack of guidance at certain levels.
On changing her decision to play at the Asian Games
The minute I made the decision to come here, I knew it was the right decision. The most important thing for me was to give India the best chance of winning as many medals as possible and I did what I could do. I played in two events and I have already got a medal (bronze in women's doubles). In the mixed doubles, we are still in with a chance to win gold. I am happy that I have made a contribution. It's my fourth Asian Games in a row and I have got medals in every one Asian Games. To get eight medals in the last four editions is pretty good I think.
On her plans after the Asian Games
It's been rough last couple of weeks. I have not had any time really since the US open. I came back from New York and had only three days at home. I couldn’t even get over the jetlag and I had to leave for for Tokyo and then come here. It's a good problem to have (smiles). After this I will go to Singapore (for the WTA season-ending finals).
On the season so far
It's been a great year for me. Especially, the second half of the season has been unbelievable. Hopefully, I and Cara (Black) can finish on a high.
First I want win here and then go to Singapore which has been the highlight of my career. I want to do well there.