Latest news with #Sania
Hindustan Times
6 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Hindustan Times
Sania Mirza on life after retirement: ‘Not competing at the professional level, but still part of the ecosystem'
After hanging up her tennis racket, Sania Mirza isn't done with the sports world. She is trading in her tennis shoes for a pickleball racket, and she's loving every bit of it. Sania says she is still deeply connected to the professional sports ecosystem, adding that pickleball is gentler on her body compared to tennis. Also read: Sania Mirza says breastfeeding was harder than pregnancy as she opens up about motherhood: 'I breastfed for 3 months' In a candid conversation with Hindustan Times Digital, Sania shares her journey post-retirement, revealing how she has discovered a new passion in sports and is navigating the challenges of balancing her professional life as a mother. After announcing her retirement in 2023, Sania is now working on building a robust ecosystem for sports globally. 'The entire life is an act of balance. Even when I was playing, there was a balance. And now, there's a balance that I need to find, and obviously, being a working woman, an entrepreneur, and a full-time mother, I think that's a balance that you just kind of need to find. But you just manage your time well,' Sania tells us. The 38-year-old continues, 'You just try to have a good support system around you, and you balance it, and you just try to segregate and compartmentalise time as well as possible. And yeah, after retiring as well, I mean, I've always been connected to tennis. I was also connected to the world of cricket with the WPL, and now, I am part of pickleball'. Here, Sania emphasises that sports is an integral part of her life, stressing, 'No matter what, sport is in my blood. Obviously, I'm not competing at the professional level, but I'm part of the professional sporting ecosystem'. 'I do play pickleball, maybe once a week or once every 10 days. It's a good cardio session for me instead of just going for a run or something like that. And, you know, one of the reasons that I stopped playing tennis competitively was because of just my body not being able to... And pickleball being a smaller court. It's easier on the body as well. So I really enjoy it. I have a lot of fun,' says the mother on one. At the moment, Sania is enjoying pickleball both personally and professionally. She recently backed the first-ever Global Sports Pickleball Open in Dubai, which was hosted in collaboration with PickleTurf Pickleball Club Dubai and the Dubai Sports Council. Sania considers promoting sports a privilege. 'Being an athlete for me, being involved in any kind of sport, and to grow any kind of sport is really close to my heart, and to be honest, there's nothing different with pickleball as well. With Pickleball, maybe a few years ago, people thought it was a fad and it's something that would go away, but I think pickleball is here to stay. It's a sport that has caught the imagination of a lot of people,' says Sania, who is also sports ambassador for Dubai. Pickleball is the latest racket sport captivating Bollywood stars, with Ranbir Kapoor and Aryan Khan among its growing fanbase. Ask Sania about the growing popularity of the sport, she says, 'Right now, it is being played more recreationally, but it's going to be played more professionally very soon. I think that, when I was growing up, tennis was a growing sport in the region; that was obvious, and you can see the growth of tennis where it's reached now. And pickleball is probably at those early stages of its life now as well.' 'It's more to just do, being a racket sport and playing a racket sport. There are similar experiences, but more than that, it's a lot of fun to play. Pickleball is something that it's a community sport,' she adds. Sania had previously expressed regret over missing out on special moments with her son Izhaan during his childhood due to her demanding tennis schedule. Now, she is trying to make up for it. 'Mom guilt is so real and no matter how much you do or what you do, you just kind of feel like you're not doing enough sometimes. But it's important to remind yourself as a mother that you're doing your best and nobody cares about the child more than the parent does. So at the end of the day, you just try to make the most of the moments that you do have the most of the time, you try to spend as much time as possible,' says Sania, who was previously married to Shoaib Malik. Explaining it further, the six-time Grand Slam champion shares, "And I think quality time is probably the way to go. And that's really what we try to do as well with my schedule, even with his schedule, with his schedule. You know, he's got school for most of the day and then, he's got his activities'. 'So we just bond a lot. We watch movies, we've got a movie day. We have a Sunday brunch right after his football match, which he usually has every Sunday. That's kind of where we're at. In terms of how we spend time together. As a mom, being there for a child and just spending time with them is, honestly, sometimes more than enough. You don't actually have to do anything,' says Sania as she signs off.
Express Tribune
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
The quiet rebellion of Sania
We all know the seasoned actor Sania Saeed for her screen presence and the lasting impression she leaves on her fans with every role. A symbol of humility and quiet star power, Sania has expressed multiple times that she's not too fond of the limelight despite the influence she inadvertently commands. But before she was Sania Saeed, one of Pakistan's most beloved actors, she was just Sania - a girl raised in a home of love and taught a strong sense of responsibility that shaped the rest of her life. In an interview on Frieha Altaf's podcast, the Sange Mar Mar actor shared that she first touched base with social justice when she was barely a teenager. The actor recalled the widespread protests that were afoot during Zia's regime, calling for justice for sexual assault victims. "There was a girl who was legally punished. She was raped, she was pregnant, and she was blind. But she was also convicted," Sania said. "I took a signature campaign to school and told the other girls that this was wrong. I must've been 14 or 15. But I was very clear even then, mostly because of my parents, on what is right and what should not be tolerated." Sania added that the situation in the country at the time sparked dissent and conversations that were deemed controversial, which was why she was reprimanded for her actions. "I was almost kicked out because they said, 'Politics isn't allowed in school.' I argued that this wasn't politics, this was about human rights." Persisting issues Although her days of decrying injustice were from an era long gone, the Ae Dil actor believes that there's much work yet to be done. "We haven't gotten out of that time period. Now, thanks to social media, we see these things more frequently. People might not be stoned physically, but they do suffer socially." Still, Sania doesn't believe that all hope is lost. "It's changing. But all changes are slow. One just hopes that they are not necessarily bloody. But with a social structure like this, even change can be strict. It is a helpless compulsion." The Raqeeb Se actor added, "It upsets me that a country that's made up of such good people is in such dire straits." But Sania believes there's a catch to virtue as well. "We are good with our traditions but not in our practices. We might even have good intentions, but since we're ignorant, we haven't earned sufficient education, and we can't keep pace with the world, then even good intentions can't save us from bad behaviour and regressive attitudes." She observed that people tend to view an imperfect society from the surface level and conclude that progress is thriving, especially when it comes to gender equality. "People look at less than one per cent of the population and say, 'A lot of women work now.' Yes, they've always been working. But the point is to acknowledge the pay gap, property issues, rights given by the law, and if they even feel safe here." She stated that multiple factors compel women to work, including their own ambitions, but they can't even do that safely. "Your gaze, your words, your behaviour instill fright in a woman. Shouldn't you be ashamed of yourself for that?" she posed. "But anyway, I don't think there's a way out of this aside from pushing back." Lending a hand While Sania has played her part by attending protests and marches in the past, she doesn't want to hog space, knowing she might take attention away from what's important. "What happens is that the celebrity becomes the focus at such events. Not that they shouldn't participate, but people tend to get distracted by pointless things," she said. "The agenda of Aurat March is never misplaced, but it can be overshadowed by this ruckus. So, that's why I used to think that my attendance was not that helpful." Despite the setbacks, Sania's support for the movement remains loud and clear: "I'm always there in spirit."
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First Post
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- First Post
Sania Mirza opens up about her personal life after divorce with Pakistan cricketer Shoaib Malik
Indian tennis star Sania Mirza recently opened up about her life and motherhood. She married Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik in 2010 and has a son named Izhaan. The couple divorced in 2024 after Shoaib Malik confirmed his relationship to Sana Javed. read more Indian tennis star Sania Mirza has opened up about her personal struggles and challenges as a mother and working woman, a year after confirming her divorce with Pakistan cricketer Shoaib Malik. In a recent interview, Sania shared her honest thoughts about parenting, career, and the unfair expectations society places on women. Sania Mirza and Shoaib Malik were one of the most talked-about cross-border celebrity couples after they got married in 2010. However, after years of speculation around their relationship, Sania confirmed their divorce in early 2024. The news came shortly after Shoaib Malik surprised fans by announcing his second marriage to Pakistani actress Sana Javed. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Sania says it's not an equal world Speaking on Masoom Minawala podcast about how her life changed after becoming a mother, Sania said, 'That's why I said right at the beginning, it's not an equal world. Yes, both men and women are part of creating a child, but after that, men usually go back to work, take trips, and do what they want. Women do that too, but we also carry the extra responsibility of caregiving most of the time.' She added that even in families where husbands are considered 'hands-on,' the reality is often far from equal. 'It's still probably a 75–25 split, not 50–50. That's just how things have been for generations. The woman is expected to take care of the house and family.' 'We want to work, travel, and achieve things that are outside the usual box. But people expect us to choose, either work or family. And I ask, if men don't have to choose, then why should we?' Sania on toughest part of motherhood Sania also spoke about her motherhood journey, especially the early months after giving birth to her son Izhaan. She said breastfeeding was the hardest part for her. 'I breastfed for 2.5 to 3 months. For me, that was the toughest part of the pregnancy. I can be pregnant three more times, but this feeding part? I don't know if I can do that again.' She explained that it wasn't about the physical pain, but the emotional and mental pressure. 'As working women, it ties you down. The baby is completely dependent, and everything you do, sleep, travel, work, has to be planned around feeding.' Sania also shared how difficult it was for her the first time she left her baby. 'Izhaan was just six weeks old when I had to go to Delhi for an event. I was so emotional and didn't want to go. It was the hardest flight I've ever taken. We give ourselves mom guilt, but honestly, kids are fine. People do this all the time,' she recalled.
NDTV
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Sania Mirza Shares Her Honest Opinion On Parenting And Motherhood
Sania Mirza recently opened up about her experience of motherhood and parenting. In a candid conversation with Masoom Minawala, Sania discussed the challenges of motherhood. Recently, in a chat with Masoom Minawala on her podcast, Sania opened up about the overwhelming guilt she experienced when she had to leave her newborn son, Izhaan, for the first time due to work. Just six weeks after giving birth, she flew to Delhi for an event— an experience she described as incredibly difficult. Reflecting on it, Sania acknowledged how mothers often burden themselves with guilt, even when moments are common and children adapt well. View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Masoom Minawala Show (@themasoomminawalashow) Talking further, Sania also shared her experience about breastfeeding Izhaan, where she shared how one time she had to pump milk on the flight—something she found challenging and emotionally taxing. Throughout the day, she remained anxious about leaving her baby behind. However, once she returned home and saw that both she and Izhaan were perfectly fine, it brought her a sense of relief. Looking back, she felt grateful for taking that step, as it helped her regain confidence in balancing motherhood with her professional life. Sania believes there is no one-size-fits-all approach to parenting; as long as the child is healthy and happy, that's what truly matters. She said that instead of burdening women with rigid societal and cultural expectations, parenting should be a shared responsibility between both parents.
India.com
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
Sania Mirza welcomes a sleek new Porsche to her car collection
Sania Mirza. New Delhi: Indian tennis star Sania Mirza, a six-time Grand Slam champion and globally recognized athlete, recently garnered media attention for personal reasons rather than sporting achievements. Mirza confirmed her 2024 divorce from Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik, who has since remarried actress Sana Javed. Sania remains dedicated to her career and son, Izhaan, despite recent challenges. Sania Mirza's success in tennis has afforded her a luxurious lifestyle. She enjoys fashion, travel, fitness, and particularly, luxury automobiles, frequently showcasing her car collection on social media. Her lifestyle reflects her achievements and appreciation for finer things. Sania Mirza recently purchased a Porsche 718 Boxster, valued at approximately Rs. 1.6 crore, as confirmed by an Instagram post from the Porsche Centre Abu Dhabi. 'Performance meets greatness. Congratulations to @mirzasaniar — six-time Grand Slam champion — as she takes the wheel of her new Porsche 718 Boxster. Another milestone. Another drive worth celebrating.' Despite personal challenges, Sania remains dedicated to her son and continues to be a role model for young Indian girls. Her resilience, poise, and optimism have earned her widespread admiration.
