Friday, 25 July 2014
Sania breaks down, asks 'how many times will I have to prove my patriotism?
A day after slamming Telangana BJP leader K Laxman for his 'Pak daughter-in-law' barb, Sania said it was a matter of great honour for her to be brand ambassador of Telangana.
In an interview to Times Now, Sania Mirza said, 'This country has made me what I am. Why shouldn't I represent Telangana and Hyderabad.'
Hitting out at her detractors Sania asked, "why did she need to explain her patriotism?"
Sania, who had reacted strongly to the Pak barb on Thursday, broke down on Friday during the course of another interview given to NDTV.
Sania blamed patriarchy for BJP leader's sexist remark, saying "we live in an extremely male chauvinist society (and) unfortunately have to deal with this as women".
"I have been playing for my country for so many years and saying — time and again — that I have an Indian passport and am (still) playing for India,'' said Sania, a recipient of India's fourth highest honour, Padma Shri.
"I do not know whether it happens in any other country where you have to keep proving that you are from that country. Is it because I am married to someone from another country? Is it because I am a woman?"
She said she won medals for the country even after getting married to Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik. "...people say things, they have their opinions. It does not affect me. But if someone is going to question my roots and my Indianness, I am not going to let that happen."
The tennis star avoided answering a question whether she was being targeted because of her religion. "I do not know about that," she said.
She said she has opened a tennis academy to groom players while responding to questions about her contribution to Telangana. "...how many people know I have spent my money (for it) — whatever I could in my capacity? I have not been given money for the tennis academy of international standard."
Sania said she had never looked at other people from the prism of religion, caste or nationality as a sportsperson. "When I got married I was asked these questions. It did not cross my mind which country he (Malik) was from when we met."
The TRS government had appointed Sania as brand ambassador of the newly carved-out state.
However, the decision didn't go down well with Telangana BJP leader K Laxman, who questioned the tennis star's credentials for the honour and termed her as "daughter-in-law" of Pakistan.
Condemning the remark, Sania issued a strong statement, saying: "I strongly condemn any attempts by any person to brand me an outsider. Hurts me that so much time is being wasted on a petty issue of my being appointed as brand ambassador of Telangana."
