Sania hopes to bag a medal

Sania will pair up with young Prarthana Thombare in women’s doubles and with Rohan Bopanna in mixed doubles in the Games, and she says she will prepare for the Olympics the same way she does for every big tournament. 

“You try and play every tournament, play every match at merit, give your best and hopefully come back with a medal. If you don’t (win a medal) then you try again. You cannot sit and predict what is going to happen,” she said in an interaction when asked about chances of clinching a medal in Rio. 

Sania’s autobiography ‘Ace against odds’ was launched by Bollywood superstar Salman Khan here on Sunday night. Asked about her chemistry with Bopanna, Sania said, “It’s been very good. Me and Rohan have known each other for a very long time, we have played a lot together. So we are looking forward to playing together in Olympics.” 

The women’s doubles world number one player said one has to inspire himself or herself to achieve success in the Olympics but the biggest inspiration was to play for the country. 

“You have to be your own inspiration, you have to be there because you want to be there (in the Olympics). The biggest inspiration is for playing for your country and there cannot be bigger inspiration than that,” she said. 

Sania, however, said that she was not preparing differently for the Olympics. 

“As tennis players, we can’t really prepare (ourselves) for one thing that comes you know. I am playing in Canada a week before the Olympics. This will be my third Olympics, we prepare for it the same way we prepare for every big tournament that we play, be it Wimbledon or US Open. So, we are looking forward to it,” said the 29-year-old. 

Meanwhile, Salman Khan said people don’t achieve even in three lifetimes what Sania Mirza has achieved at 29. 

“People don’t achieve what Sania has achieved at 29 even in three lifetimes... I think she has lots to say, so before she forgets what she wanted to say she came up with a book. I think that was very wise, sensible decision for her to write her autobiography. And after this there will be part 2,3,4 because she is an achiever and she is going to keep on achieving,” said the Bollywood actor at the event. 

The book captures Sania’s journey of becoming World No.1 tennis player in women’s doubles and the roadblocks that she encountered while realising her dream. 

Salman Khan said that he has known Sania for 14 years, they share an incredible friendship and he truly believes that if Sania makes up her mind to enter the film industry, she will do wonders. 

Talking about her biography Sania said, “‘Ace Against Odds’, is my story of an amazing journey and I am delighted to share it with the world. I feel specially honoured and grateful that my friend Salmon took time out of his extremely busy schedule to officially launch my autobiography.”