Updates on the 1st Day of SunFeast Open 2005

Sania shouldn't give up her aggression: Coach

Sania Mirza's coach John Farrington on Tuesday averred that time management was the key to the 18-year old's success at the top level of tennis and that he did not want the Hyderabadi girl to cut down on her aggression.
"I don't want her to lose her aggression. We plan to work on this aspect of her game to tighten some loose ends, but I would like her to be aggressive," Farrington said.
The Bahamas-born coach said that he agreed with Mahesh Bhupathi's observation that Sania should go to the net more often. "I think she should attack the net more. This gives her an advantage as she goes towards the net and sends deep returns which puts her opponents on the defensive."
Mirza, sail into second round of Sunfeast Open tennis tournament
Third-seeded Sania Mirza of India advanced to the second round of the Sunfeast Open with easy victories Tuesday.
Mirza defeated Junri Namigata of Japan 6-2, 6-2
Short-skirt Sania finds support - Muslim leaders say they are ‘proud’ of 18-year-old
Muslim leaders today came out in support of the teen sensation from Hyderabad.
“We are proud of what Sania Mirza has achieved in her career so far. She has brought recognition to the country, especially in women’s tennis, which was neglected so far. Not a single reputed religious leader anywhere in the country has issued any fatwa against her.
“Islamic laws state that women should be properly dressed, but not a single progressive leader (has) ever thought of issuing any fatwa against her for turning up in skirts or shorts in court,” Maulana Syed Nizamuddin, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board general secretary,

Security v popularity

The unprecedented security cover for Sania Mirza has led to rather uncomfortable scenes at the Netaji Indoor Stadium, with spectators and the media being inconvenienced.
While, it can be understood that her security is of top-most priority, what defied logic was one of the publicity events held at the venue today.
The organisers had arranged for Sania to stand in one of the co-sponsors stalls at the venue, and she was to satisfy autograph hunters. A huge queue soon formed, some of it a bit unruly, and Sania patiently started to put her signature on. It’s true she was still surrounded by security, but naturally such close proximity to any crowd cannot rule out an untoward incident, specially when such a hue-and-cry was being made about keeping her “safe”.
Moreover, this event started at 4.30 pm and had not a heavy downpour started, would have gone on for some time. Sania had a match to play at 7 pm.

Sania craze leaves other women players high and dry

Sania Mirza may have attracted both the moolah and the media through her on-court exploits, but the hype surrounding the teenager has left other women players of the country feeling let down due to neglect and lack of corporate support. While appreciative of Sania's fast climb up the ranking ladder, Ankita Bhambri let her frustration known in an interaction with the media. "Sania has done very well for herself and made India proud. But there are others who are also trying," said the 19-year-old Ankita, who has crossed swords with Sania on a number of occasions in