The 19-year-old supposed Indian prodigy is the latest-Indian-public-advantage taker. Oh sorry, let me rephrase that, she is the latest media-exploited personality to storm into the Indian sport/media scene. After her breakthrough into the international tennis circuit, a year back, things looked extremely bright. Not that they don't now, she is 19, but the first thing India did to her success was take advantage of her endorsing potential.
She had won the hearts of most Indians, especially the youth, with her attractive charm and one hell of a killing spirit. And then, enter media. We started seeing her in more advertisements, starting more 'clubs', and being in the papers more in her sarees than her sport-skirts. One minor WTA triumph in a below-standard line-up is basically all that she has to show.
Last year, her breathtaking performance against US Open winner Svetlana Kuznetsova in Dubai left me mesmerized. Even though she wasn't the fittest, or the fastest, it seemed that this teenage sensation was soon going to make her mark, not only on Indian tennis, but also globally. But a year has passed, and I see no progress. Her same lack-lustre fitness, slowness on court and unnecessary unforced errors is still in prominence. Where is the improvement? Yes, she is still 19, but so is Sharapova. No sorry, Sharapova is 18! It took her only a year to reach the number one spot, and she is only becoming better.
Who is to blame for this? Is it Ms. Mirza for getting transfixed into this media swoon, or is it the media who have pulled her in?
Sania does have potential, her power and killing spirit and are two resourceful positives. All she needs now is practice, and some magical spell to avoid media distractions.
But besides the tennis, she has now, probably because of media hype, earned enough money to last a lifetime. So the money she hasn't won in prize-money, she has got through endorsements. But is that all? Is that all the spirit of sports is about - Money? I feel she is the latest breed of an Indian cricketer - she has the support of a billion people, and she uses a bat (yeah I know, a racquet), and a ball to earn her 'cash'.
There is a lot of time for her to improve - I agree. 'Yeah someday she'll make it' - but that's not how we should keep putting her aside.
Anyway she has the money. So is it game, Mirza?
I can't wait for your responses.
16 comments:
You know, this is one of your few posts that I completely agree with. Certainly a v. good point you're making.
You know, I feel that with the amount of pressure that India as a whole puts on anybody who shows some success, its enough to really affect some people. I mean, she's just starting on an international career, and so much has been made of her (remember the numerous school visits and interviews when she was in Dxb?) that it could be time for her to just take a step back, forget about sponsorship deals (as you said, she must have landed quite a pile by now) and maybe take her game forward.
Nice post, dunno where you find the time to spend on blogging. :)
Excellent post! seriously one of your best! the thing is, we can't really blame the Indian media for putting the pressure they do. we saw it happen with Paes alone as well as with Paes and Bhupati. it's unfair to expect the government to develop sporting facilities rapidly enough to match the rest of the world and so when someone comes up independently and works their way through the ranks, even if only to no.66, the country feels they need to really sponsor the persona that is the prodigy. Ms. Mirza is at fault when she thinks a bharat petroleum advert means she's made it in tennis. what the media does is creates a false sense of success so eventually the person loses the drive that got them that far in the first place. Sharapova is equally well endorsed if not more but she doesn't let it get to her head. THAT is the difference.
once again great post anish and journalism? not bad!
harry - totally agree
manish - well the definition of 'greatness' acc to me is that a 'great' person always becomes greater. a great person keeps growing, and learning and yearnning for more. whereas Sania's current situation is more of stagnation. she is on the same level as she was an year back. Thats my point. thats why i have not called her great, because she seemed to be great, but now signs are fading. she does show flashes of brilliance, but greatness requires consistent brilliance. she is not bad and i respect her for breatking thorugh, and beign the 1st indian female to do so, but where is she going to go from here? she is more like a public figure than a sportsman to me!
in the end it just comes down to priorities. i'm paraphrasing something an old friend of ours Thierry Henry said- it comes down to sporting ambitions. She has to decide if she wants to be a person covered by the media and no more, she has to keep in mind why the media covered her to begin with- her sporting ambitions!
p.s. Anish, you'd be smarter than her right?
Sania Mirza hasn't done much wrong.
You cannot really say that she is fading away. It was just this US Open that she performed well. One loss to Martina Hingis, a great player, is not the end. Though Hingis has a low ranking, she deserves to be in the top 10 atleast. So you can't expect miracles all the time.
The media hype is because we never have had such a big female star. Let the people of India be happy with their new star. Since the endorsements are coming her way, let her have them. After all, anyone would want to secure themselves financially. You can't expect her, or for that matter any sports-person to live for the game and neglect the financial aspect. If the money is coming to her in a platter, why not take it. And what makes you think that this will affect her game, or has affected her game??
You just cannot compare her to Sharapova. Thats the problem with us, once an Indian appears in a field, we expect GREAT things from them. We compare them to other prodigies ... a lot of great players have not achieved what Sharapova has, at the age of 18.
Let Mirza be. She may not become the world number one soon. But she is in the top 30 (not 60's anymore) and that is quite an achievement. The future is bright. She is not going to retire soon either. So let us stop this criticism.
Neglection of finances can never be a possibility for a sportsmen, but the difference is whether a sportsman over-exploits his position or not.
Sania mirza has, acc to me, taken so much advantage of her well 'superstardom' that it seems she is neglecting her game. There has to be a particular line the separates sportsman spirit and finance. you need finance, but there should never be a compromise on your actaul skills. thats where she is going wrong, and thats where kournikova also went wrong.
This is not criticism, but this is more of raising awareness to this glaring fact. Think ahead, think about your game - you have enough money - better youe game and then earn money thorugh your game rather that your image. Manity fair had a similar concept.
I never said she didn't have talent and well i respect that fact that she is in the top 30, but where is the progress. Apart from reaching second rounds and third rounds she has nothing to show.
And if Sharapova is not a good example, what about Hingis, what about Kuznetsova, What about the william sisters?
Here are some stats on sania's and sehwag's endorsements:
Sania Mirza
TOTAL ENDORSEMENTS
Rate per endorsement: 5
Jan '05, before her match with Serena Williams Rs 5.5 lakh
Feb 11, after winning the WTA title Rs 40-50 lakh
March 1, after defeating world number 7 in Dubai Rs 80 lakh-1 crore
Virender Sehwag
TOTAL ENDORSEMENTS
Rate per endorsement: 11
2001
Rs 10-15 lakh
Prior to World Cup 2003 Rs 35-40 lakh
When he hit 309 in Pakistan in 2004 Rs 70 lakh
Current rate Rs 1 crore
Is sport all about money? What is india doing wiht its talent? - Govind realise I am not blaming mirza.
You can't say that she is not progressing. Last year, she constantly imporved her grand slam form, improving by one round each time. You can't expect her to challenge for the Grand Slam title's already. Clijsters won her first grand slam only 3 months back!!
Sania did slip up in the Australian Open. But she has done no other wrong. She has had difficult draws and one or two slip ups. But she has been IMPROVING.
I dont think her endorsments are affecting her.
Are grandslams the only tournaments she takes parts in? I do not expect her to win grand slam titles - all i expect to see is some improvement in her game - whcih is lacking since last year acc to my observance, and apart from Calcutta, whose top seed was some 'sdsadasdaskdhaskthHOVA' - was the only tournament she won. When is she going to raise her level? Enough hype girl! its time for results.
I'm surprised that noone has brought up kournikova (i think manish did) as a serious thing here. It seems to me the way anish puts it, Sania Mirza maybe heading the same way. Nowadays its true that endorsements maybe the breadwinning occupation of most sports personalties. Infact many international, foreign, stars come to India (especially) to endorse products. They see to be getting more income from India than from their own country! I guess in the end its only upto her to decide what she wants to do. I did see her play recently and its obviously not up to the mark.
Maybe she should start screaming on the court like Sharapova...who knows, that could be the secret to her succes!
She may not have won any tournaments. Yet, she has performed well. Done well in tournaments like Dubai Open and gone down fighting to superior and higher seeded opponents.
All I am saying that the criticism that you are levelling is too unfair.
You know, regarding your earlier comment about it all being related to money, I feel that a certain amount of leeway should be given to Sehwag, et al as well. Their earning potential is limited to a short period of a few years, and I feel they want to make the most out of that, something we'd all want to do. However, this is obviously only if they keep up the quality of their game, as otherwise, they'd just fade away.
You know, I think a bit of the "blame" could be put to the media as well as the nation as a whole. If advertisements featuring celebs and sports stars, sell then rising stars will be approached for endorsements and will definitely agree. (How many successful ads do we know of that deal with the "common man", although if one could be created featuring RK Laxman's "Common Man" that would be entertaining indeed.)
On a lighter note, anybody else saw "Weekend" yesterday? Have a look, you might find someone we know endorsing a product. :)
yea check that out.... it will seriously blow ure heads off. Anish i am sure u won't stop laughin for atleast 2 days.. and i bet u ll post something on it. Its dam funny and quite answers this post. Check the weekend magazine and look out for the ads.
I ll giv u a hint.. the model was frm our skool and quite well known throught India and Dubai. Not shawn.
OMG.
THE AD.
Shrivats, next year, do you plan to do the same??
Who says it'll be Shrivats?? :P
Cut her some slack. After a long time an Indian is back in the league. Lets not rule her out just yet.
I do hope she does'nt turn out like Paes though. The minute she takes part in doubles, I guess we'll know :)
read carefully, i am not ruling her out, in fact i have maintained the fact that she still has potential, but she should be aware of her stagnation.
I am proud of herm and vouch for her every time she plays, but jsut in her best interests, she shouldnt get dragged or distracted - thats the picture i am getting.
thanks for commenting though.
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