Saina vs Sania

The debate would go on whether Saina Nehwal would ever be given the same status as that of Sania Mirza in India? Undoubtedly Sania has done far more than any other female tennis player from India and she deserves all the attentions and accolades. But would that justify that she keeps on hogging all the limelight inspite of not being able to repeat the performances. The past two years have been a pretty average for her and apart from technique; it’s her fitness that is to be blamed for her debacle. She is far more off the court due to her injury than on the court. From as high as 30th rank, she has slipped below 100. And she has not made a single major mark which is worth mentioning. And during the same course of time, Saina Nehwal has gone from strength to strength. She has been performing consistently and has reached atleast quarters of every other tournament she has played. She added jewel in her crown by reaching the quarter-finals in Olympics. The icing on the cake was her recent win of a Super Series Tournament. It would have been great that she also received the same adulations as that of Sania Mirza courtsy her series of achievements. But that is not to be. For her achievements, on one hand, Sania receives full page story and on the other hand Saina has to satisfy with a para mention.
Let’s find out some of the reasons for such biased reactions to these two individuals. Some of the factors are:
1. Fan following – The popularity of Tennis is far more than that of Badminton. So the treatment meted out to players in both the games is going to be different. It’s the same Cricket vs Hockey story.
2. Glamour Quotient – Sania brings glamour quotient in to the game. It’s of no hidden secret that the popularity of Sania is next only to Maria Sharapova (in terms of glamour).
3. Tennis catches eyeball – Tennis is one sport where “the length of skirt is inversely proportional to the popularity of the player”. And add the glamour and controversy and Voila you get page 3 news.
4. Media – It’s of no hidden secret that media worldwide (esp in India) shows what is sold. And we all know what is sold in India.
I don’t foresee that in near future Saina Nehwal is going to get the accolades and adulations as she deserve until or unless one of the above points changes. And till that time sports lover like me would wonder: “Why an overrated Sania’s 1st round victory is is always given far more importance than an underrated Saina’s appearance in the final of a Super Series Tournament?”