Xtra Time Web Desk: Winning a medal at the Tokyo Olympics is the biggest dream of Indian tennis ace Sania Mirza. It has been an elusive dream for the 34 year Sania, who will be eyeing her fourth Olympics this year. It was this long desire that has motivated her to return to the WTA circuit after a gap of almost a year.
Sania, who paired with Slovenian Andreja Klepac, reached the semi-finals in the women’s doubles at the Qatar Open on Wednesday, her first tournament since Feb. 2020 when she played at the same Doha event.
“The Tokyo Olympics was definitely one of the reasons (for my comeback),” six-time Grand Slam doubles champion Mirza said to reporters in Doha.
“We came really, really close to winning that medal last time (when) we lost the bronze medal match.
“I feel when I sort of close this chapter of my life… an Olympic medal is something that I would have loved to win. So I want to give myself another shot at it.
“Whether I can be or will I be able to? Time will tell, but that is something important to me and it was one of the motivations for me to come back.”
Mirza, who became a mother in Oct. 2018, also said she is motivated to inspire women to chase their dreams.
“Women sort of think that once they have a baby, life is over, but it’s not,” she said.
“You don’t have to crush your dreams because you have a child. You can still go after them.”