Indian sports is going through a good season. The Indian hockey team won two tournaments consecutively. In volleyball, although India lost the final match to Brazil, it received the runner-up trophy in the World U-19 Volleyball Championship. However, the biggest reason for the country to celebrate was given by Sania Mirza, who won the junior women’s double title at Wimbledon and became the first Indian girl to achieve this feat.

Commendable is the fact that a 16-year-old girl managed to clinch the Wimbledon title which had eluded many Indian women players in the past. She said: "I had always dreamt about winning the Wimbledon but was never sure whether I would be able to make it come true. Once we managed to defeat the world’s top-ranking players in the first round, victory seemed near and that boosted our confidence. The only need was to keep our cool and play the game naturally, which we did."

She had wanted to be a tennis player from childhood and maintained a delicate balance between her academic and sports activities. Her family, teachers and friends fully supported her. She said: "I don’t have to attend school if I am doing well in my final exams. Moreover, my friends help me with my studies." She managed to score 63 per cent marks in Class X despite her hectic training schedule. Her workout sessions begin at 5.30 a. m and extend up to 7 in the evening.

When she first began playing tennis, the family seemed sceptical and support was not easily obtained. But once she began showing her mettle and they saw her talent and dedication, they extended all help. She remarked: "I could not have dreamt of reaching so far without my parents and sister Anam’s guidance and sacrifices."

She idolises Steffi Graf and her goal is to be among the world’s top 20 women players in tennis. Presently, she is also trying to focus on singles and wants to perform well in that section of the game too.

Elaborating on her forthcoming tournaments, she said: "My focus is on the U. S. Open to be held in September first week." She is searching for a partner for this fixture as the Russian girl who played with her in Wimbledon, Alisa Kleybanova, has taken an injury break. Her coaches, Krishna and Mahesh Bhupati are helping her find a suitable doubles partner.

A level-headed girl who is well aware of her strong and weak points in the game, she confessed that she needed to work upon her footwork and agility. Though she defended the infrastructure and other facilities provided here, she admitted that training outside India was necessary to learn new techniques. She is waiting for good sponsors as she believes that one cannot reach the top of the game without their support.