She may not have succeeded in winning a gold at the recently concluded Commonwealth Games, but tennis star Sania Mirza is now looking forward to give her best in the next month’s Asian Games in Guangzhou.
"We are going to try our best to win as many medals as possible at the Asian Games. In sports you never know what happens. But we are going to give our best," Sania said, when asked on chances of winning medals at the upcoming Asian Games, scheduled to take place in Guangzhou, China from November 12 to 27.
Sania, who scripted history by becoming the first Indian woman tennis player to win three medals -- one gold and two silver -- in the previous edition of the Asian Games at Doha in 2006, is keen on continuing her good run in the Asian Games.
"Asian Games is going to be lot tougher than the Commonwealth Games. Many top-20 players would come to play there. But every time I have gone to the Asian Games (Busan and Doha) I have come back with medals. So, I hope I can do the same this time around as well," the 24-year-old said.
Sania, who had also partnered Leander Paes in clinching the mixed doubles bronze in the Busan Asian Games, said, "I have one more tournament to play before going into Asian Games. I have to try and win lot of medals this time also."
The Hyderabadi, who is currently ranked 136, has seen her ranking on a gradual decline and is likely to see it sink even further in the coming days, but she had a perfect explanation for it.
"My concentration for the whole year has been on the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games. Now CWG is over and I am happy that it was successful Games not just for me but for Andhra Pradesh and whole of India. I have played really well in CWG," she said adding, "Playing for the country is the priority for me and that’s what I’m focusing on right now."
Sania, who won a silver after losing to top-seeded Australian Anastasia Rodionova in the women’s singles final at the Delhi Games, when asked if she could have won the gold, she said, "Of course. That was the plan. At 7-6 (3) in the third set, it’s not about tennis, it’s more about luck.
"CWG was very special for us, because it was in India. It was particularly special for me, because I played in India after a long time. Tennis was included for the first time and it’s not there for the next time and I’m lucky that I was a part of it. I am happy that I could win two medals."
Speaking on the Commonwealth Games, Sania said, "India proved a lot of people wrong by successfully holding the mega event. In fact the opening and the closing ceremonies were really great. I am happy and proud we could host such a good show."
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