Bid and grab chance to play with Sania Tuesday, 14 February , 2006, 05:12 Bangalore: Tennis buffs will get a rare opportunity to play against Sania Mirza if they emerge the highest bidder in an auction for a noble cause. Sania would play a game of Pro-Am tennis with the highest bidder on February 16, 2006 at the Karnataka State Lawn Tennis Association (KSLTA) Centre, where the 1,75,000 dollars WTA Bangalore Open Tennis Tournament is in progress. KSLTA Honorary Secretary Sunder Raju said in a release here that ''the successful bidder gets to play a game with Sania in a ceremonial match, where Vijay Amritraj will be the Master of Ceremonies, before cameras that will capture the action live to take it to millions of sports lovers across the world.'' Stating that the bid money would go towards fulfilling KSLTA's mission of bringing tennis closer to rural children of Karnataka, he said one need not be a tennis player to play with Sania as two hours of training would be given to the successful bidder. The bid, starting at Rs 99,000 on the ebay platform, had opened and would close on February 15 at 4 p.m.

Sania slips to 38 in WTA rankings UNI NEW DELHI: After her secone-round exit from the WTA Tier II tournament in Paris, Sania Mirza dropped six places to 38 in the latest WTA rankings, even though the Indian ace continues to rank above Serena Williams, who languishes at the 44th spot. The top 10 names on the list remain unchanged, with Belgian Kim Clijsters continuing to lead the pack. American Lindsay Davenport and Russian Maria Sharapova are third and fourth.

Sania gets a superstar welcome Move over Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar, your time at the top of the popularity charts is close to over. In fact, the turn of events at the KSLTA tennis stadium courts here on Sunday evening actually suggested that the time for a new icon has already come. Taking Sachin’s place will be teen sensation and darling of the crowds, Sania Mirza. The 19-year-old, top seed at the $175,000 Bangalore Open tennis tournament which gets underway here on Monday, arrived to a tumultuous welcome. The huge crowd outside – and inside – the stadium waiting to catch a glimpse of the star, had to be seen to be believed. Stepping out of a swanky Mercedez Benz at the gate, Sania was quickly whisked away. The crowd, a couple of young tennis hopefuls and the media included, was kept at bay. Globosport, the owners of the event, tried to prevent the lensmen from shooting her pictures. But, with the photographers standing firm and occupying the seats in the stands next to court one, Sania, hair coloured and in a bright red pullover, entered the court to a vociferous reception. Schoolchildren, who were seated at the far corner of the stadium, also rushed to court one to watch Sania hit a few balls. She loosened up for a while with her doubles partner, Leizel Huber of South Africa, before working out with France’s Camille Pin. After about an hour or so, Sania, turned to the crowd and obliged the autograph hunters. The tournament has attracted a clutch of top-100 players and the Sania show will begin when she plays Martina Muller of Germany in the first round on Tuesday.

Sania to endorse Sprite NEW DELHI: After endorsing Hyundai Getz and Tata Tea, tennis sensation Sania Mirza has been signed by soft drink giant Coca Cola for its product 'Sprite' "The company believes that this campaign will connect with today's youth, all of whom have realised that they need to work hard to achieve their desired goals instead of sitting around waiting for a miracle to happen," Coca Cola Vice president marketing Vikas Gupta said in a statement. Sania has become a youth icon at the young age of 19 through her sheer hard work and an honest attitude. She matches Sprite's inherent brand DNA, hence becoming an ideal platform for the product's this year campaign, he said. He said the company admires Sania not only for her game but also for the direct speak and unpretentious approach to her achievements. "Sprite is a no-nonsense brand-with an in-your-face and chilled out approach to life. The current commercial retains this them, yet interestingly incorporates Sania into the story," he added. "Honestly, Sprite has been my favourite drink. It has stood for a refreshing youthful attitude-one that I identify with. Being a part of the Sprite's current campaign is quite exciting for me," Sania said. The commercial would go on-air from February 11 and has been produced by Sabal Sheikhawat and the creative agency handling sprite is Ogilvy & Mather.

Sania bows out of doubles as well NEW DELHI, Feb 11: After her exit in the singles, India's Sania Mirza also lost in the second round of the doubles event at the $600,000 Open Gaz de France at Paris late on Friday. Sania and South African partner Liezel Huber lost in a hard fought three setter 7-6 (8/6), 3-6, 6-7 (5/7) to Tathiana Garbin of Italy and Mashona Washington of the US in an encounter that lasted two hours and nine minutes. Earlier in the tournament, the 34th ranked Indian had crashed out of the second round of the singles event, losing 4-6, 2-6 to 24th ranked Tatiana Golovin of France.

Sania Mirza Pics From AfroAsia Games 2003, She was just bout beginning to get into the spotlight.

Golovin shows Sania the door PARIS: Sania Mirza's impressive first round win proved to be a flash in the pan as the Indian ace went down 4-6, 2-6 to French teenager Tatiana Golovin in her second round game at the $600,000 Open Gaz de France here on Thursday. Ranked eight places above the Indian, the unseeded Golovin led 5-4 before breaking Sania to clinch the first set. In the second set, Sania made a brief comeback when she broke Golovin once but that hardly had any impact on the French girl, who broke back immediately to lead 5-1. Serving for the match, Golovin was broken for the second time by the Indian but it was too little and too late for Sania as the former had wrested the momentum by that time. Partisan crowd Sania desperately needed to hold on to her serve to save the match but she couldn't and Golovin — backed by the crowd — broke her to seal the match. This was Sania's second loss in the second round of a singles competition, the first being at the Australian Open, this year. With her singles campaign over, Sania will now partner South African Liezel Huber to take on the US-Italian pair of Mashona Washington and Tathiana Garbin in their second round doubles match.

Sania Mirza downs sixth seed Pennetta Wednesday, February 08, 2006 Sania Mirza defeated No.6 seed Flavia Pennetta of Italy in the first round of the Paris Indoor Open here. PARIS (PTI): Sania Mirza defeated No.6 seed Flavia Pennetta of Italy in the first round of the Paris Indoor Open here. Sania beat Pennetta 6-2, 7-6 (7/5). The only seed in action yesterday, Pennetta was upset by the rising Indian teen in a brilliant display of attacking tennis. Sania will play Tatiana Golovin of France, who beat Marta Domachowska of Poland.

How Mirza is changing Indian sport Mirza went out in the second round of the Australian Open The success of an Indian teenage tennis star is set to have a major positive effect on sport in a country which won just one medal at the last Olympics - despite being home to a billion people. Sania Mirza, 19, from Hyderabad, has so far risen to 34 in the women's rankings, and has caused a stir as much by what she wears on court as her performances. Last year she became the first Indian woman to reach the fourth round of the US Open, although she went out in the second round of the recent Australian Open. Novy Kapadia, one of India's leading sports commentators, told BBC World Service's Sports International programme that Mirza's "phenomenal achievement" had made her a role model in the country. "She has the same killer approach as Steffi Graf. She's just shown that an ordinary Indian girl can achieve a lot with dedication," he said. "Sania Mirza is also a success story because the tennis federation, to a certain extent, has been able to market her. "The board of control for cricket in India are like Chelsea in England - they are way above. But there is a vacuum in Indian sport, and sports like tennis and shooting are coming up because they have been able to modernise." 'Great motivator' Mirza's success has been inspiring for a country yet to register on the global sporting map outside of cricket and hockey. India is often compared with China as both countries have massive populations. But while China recorded 32 gold medals - together with 17 silver and 14 bronze - at the Athens Olympics in 2004, India took only one medal, a silver for double-trap shooter Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore. The President of the Indian Olympic Committee, Suresh Kalmadi, in conversation In India it's all cricket - and more cricket Indian Olympic Committee president Suresh Kalmadi Rathore himself said that he was hopeful both he and Mirza would be able to win medals at the next Olympics, in Beijing in 2008. "She is a great motivator for sport in our country," he said. "But it must be understood that Sania comes from a very affluent background. People like Sania and me have things which are laid out for them - 80-90% of the Indian population does not have access to all these things that the elite have access to. "In that 80-90% lies the cream of the talent for India. If India is to beat China or America, we have to address that 80%. We have to address those Muslim women who are not of modern thinking. "We have to get them out of the houses. We have to get Hindu women out of the houses. We have to find a healthy food for Indian people to eat, for them to run, to compete with the stronger European. That's the essence of it." All cricket Mirza, who is Muslim, has been criticised by a leading cleric of wearing "indecent dress" and being a "corrupting influence on young women" after she appeared on court wearing short clothing. However, she told Sports International that she was not overly concerned by the comments. "My explanation is that I don't think anyone's perfect," she said. "Maybe I wear short skirts, but I still pray five times a day and I do what other Muslims do. Some people have a beard, and they don't do stuff like that. "I guess it just depends - I'm not saying that what I'm doing is right, but I don't think anyone should object. It's me and my God, it's me and my parents." Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore Rathore was India's only medallist in Athens Suresh Kalmadi, the president of the Indian Olympic Committee, believes that raising the profile of sport outside cricket is very important in India. The country is to host the 2010 Commonwealth Games, is bidding for the 2014 Asian Games and is aiming to bid for the Olympics. "In India, it's all cricket - and more cricket," he said. "We want to bring in Olympic sports and, through these events, we can popularise them." But he added that the corporate sector is only interested in cricket - a sport which is not played in the Olympics. "I've been trying to convince them to sponsor Olympic sports, and if you get a medal out of that the amount of mileage you can get is phenomenal," he said. "Our silver medallist is getting sponsored, as are many shooters. So the concept is taking off. I'm sure at the Commonwealth Games, a lot of industry will come forward."

Sania is Deutsche Bank's new product ambassador in India Mumbai: Indian tennis sensation Sania Mirza has been signed up to promote Deutsche Bank's retail banking products and services in the country. Bank's Managing Director and CEO Gunit Chadha said Sania's popularity as an icon of talent, determination and success is expected to resonate with the banks clients and will provide an impetus to their fast establishing retail presence in India. ''I look forward to working with them to promote their retail banking services to a large number of customers in the country,'' she was quoted in a release as saying. As a product ambassador, Sania will exclusively partner Deutsche Bank across the spectrum of retail products and services. She will endorse the bank's retail offerings through advertisements, events and personal appearances, the release said.

Sania Mirza is ‘International Sports Personality’ of the year SANIA Mirza, Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul Haq and Viswanathan Anand will be honoured as the International Sports Personality of the Year 2005, an award instituted by Sony Entertainment Television. Over 800 dignitaries including Keith Vaz, former Minister for Foreign and Commonwealth Office, former Indian wicketkeeper batsman Farooq Engineer, and the television channel`s `Indian Idol` winner Abhijeet Sawant attended the award ceremony held at the Hilton Hotel in Park Lane. Former England cricket captain Nasser Hussein won the Lifetime Achievement Award. "Obviously I am very thrilled to receive something like this after I have stopped playing cricket. It is a great honour," the Chennai-born said on receiving the award. Boxer Amir Khan, winner of a silver medal at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games at the age of 17, was declared Sports Personality of the Year. Amir turned professional in 2005 and since then he has maintained an undefeated record in an explosive fashion with 4 wins in 4 fights and looks set to continue his historic rise to a boxing world title.

Indian Teenage Tennis Sensation Sania Mirza Posting whatever sania pics i could lay my hands on.