From winning Grand Slams to disrespecting Indian national flag: Top 5 achievements and controversies involving Sania Mirza - In Pics

Sania Mirza is the first woman from India to win any kind of Women's Tennis Association (WTA) championship. She won two WTA finals—the first one in 2014 with Cara Black and the second in 2015 with Swiss superstar Martin Hingis as she successfully defended her WTA title.

Do you remember how everyone erupted as Sania Mirza's feet dangerously neared the Indian flag? The tennis player had her feet up on the table with the national flag while she watched a match. Social worker Prakash Singh Thakur contacted her in accordance with the Prevention of Insult to the National Honour Act (1971).

The 35-year-old had a history of success in the doubles division. She finished her career with six Grand Slam victories, three of which were in the mixed doubles division. In women's doubles, Sania and Martina Hingis also won three grand slam titles. By winning both the US Open and Wimbledon in 2015, the duo collected their first two Grand Slams. The 2016 Australian Open was later won by Sania and Martina as well, giving them a third Grand Slam triumph.

In 2009, Sohrab Mirza and Sania began dating. In Hyderabad, they even got engaged. After six months, the wedding was called off, and the pair blamed their split on incompatibility.

 

Sania won three Grand Slams in the mixed doubles division in addition to her success in women's doubles. Sania won her first two mixed doubles Grand Slams by winning the Australian Open in 2009 and the French Open in 2012 with Mahesh Bhupati, a fellow Indian superstar. In order to add a third Grand Slam to her resume, she would later team up with Brazilian tennis star Bruno Soares and win the 2014 US Open.

Over 10 years ago, the tennis player was subject to a fatwa (an authoritative judgement or statement in Islamic law) because she was wearing short skirts. Due of her attire, she was the victim of countless harsh and sexist comments.

Tennis prodigy from India attained the sport's highest honour in the doubles division on April 13, 2015, when she was ranked as the world's top doubles player. Sania Mirza's career peaked at that time, when she became the first Indian woman to hold the coveted top spot in her sport.

In a 2007 complaint, the minority protection department charged Sania Mirza with shooting while on the property of the masjid. Many citizens and activists were outraged by her behaviour and protested against her.

 

Sania Mirza took home a whopping 14 medals from various sporting competitions, including 6 golds for India. Throughout various Asian Games editions, she earned a total of 7 medals in the women's and mixed doubles divisions. She also took home a bronze in women's doubles and a silver in women's singles in the Delhi-hosted Commonwealth Games in 2010.

Sania got married to Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik, therefore on July 23, 2013, Telangana BJP leader K Laxman referred to her as Pakistan's "daughter-in-law." Given the recent establishment of the state, Laxman questioned her suitability to act as the brand ambassador for Telangana.