Born in Mumbai to Hyderabadi parents Imran Mirza, a builder, and his wife Naseema, who worked in a printing business, Sania took up tennis at the age of six. The 32-year-old, who has made India proud several times, has been coached by her father and Roger Anderson. This amazing woman has been the pride of this country and inspired women to pursue sports without a doubt. On the occasion of her birthday, we would like to walk you through Sania's achievements and life journey till date.
Professional Achievements
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- Sania has won six Grand Slam titles till date.
- In 2004, Sania was awarded the Arjuna award by the Indian Government.
- In 2006, she was awarded a Padma Shri, India's fourth highest honour for her achievements as a tennis player.
- She was ranked by Women's Tennis Association (WTA) as India's No 1. player from 2003 until her retirement.peaking at world No. 27 in singles in mid-2007; however, a major wrist injury forced her to give up her singles career and focus on the doubles circuit.
- She is among the highest paid athletes in the country.
- In her singles matches, Sania has won overSvetlana Kuznetsova, Vera Zvonareva and Marion Bartoli; as well as former world No. 1s Martina Hingis, Dinara Safina, and Victoria Azarenka.
- She has surpassed US$1 million in career earnings, which is now over $6 million.
- Sania has won singles Pro-level title, and six major titles -- three each in women's doubles and in mixed doubles-- as well as qualified and won the WTA Finals in 2014 alongside Cara Black, defending the title the following year partnering with Martina Hingis.
- She is the third Indian woman in the Open Era to win a round at a Grand Slam tournament, and the first to reach the second week.
- Sania has till date won14 medals (including 6 Gold) at three major multi-sport events, namely the Asian Games, the Commonwealth Games and the Afro-Asian Games.
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Social Contribution
- She was appointed as the UN Women's Goodwill Ambassador for South Asia during the event held to mark the International Day To End Violence Against Women in November 2013.She is the first South Asian Woman to be appointed as a Goodwill Ambassador in the organization's history.
- Mirza has established a tennis academy in Hyderabad, which is often visited by Grand Slam winners Cara Black and Martina Navratilova.
- Currently, Mirza is the brand ambassador for the Indian state of Telangana.
Personal Life
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- On 12 April 2010, Sania got married to Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik in a traditional Hyderabadi Muslim wedding ceremony at the Taj Krishna Hotel in Hyderabad, India followed by Pakistani wedding customs. Their Walima ceremony was held in Lahore, Pakistan. The wedding was the most debated union as this was all about an Indian marrying a Pakistani.
- On October 30, 2018, the couple had their first baby and named the boy, Izhaan Mirza Malik.
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- To try something new amidst the games, Sania has also walked the ramp at several fashion weeks including Lake Fashion Week this year.
Sania has been a major source of inspiration for millions and HerZindagiwishes her a very Happy Birthday!