The Iron Lady appointed mentor of RCB in WPL 2023:
Sania Mirza, one of the most successful tennis players in the world, has expressed her willingness to mentor the young minds of Royal Challengers Bangalore for WPL 2023.She had an extremely successful career, which is evident by her being a six-time Grand Slam champion along with winning 43 WTA titles.
Sania Mirza, 36, hailing from Mumbai, talked candidly in her interview with the RCB’s official media page. She talked about her experiences, struggles, and outlook on various aspects of sports. She admitted that she was really surprised when she was first approached by RCB about becoming mentor for the maiden season of the WPL in 2023. But her excitement surpassed her nervousness, and she spoke about how she has always wanted to empower young women, to make them believe that the sky is the limit and that no obstacle should stand in their way.They should work really hard and keep pushing their limits. They should know that if you have yourself, you can achieve everything you want. Nothing else should matter but your trust in yourself, your abilities, hard work, and determination.
Her commitment to empowering women is evident in her initiatives, such as the Sania Mirzas Tennis Academy and the She Got the Power campaign, which encourages women to participate in sports. On being asked about the similarities between the games in light of mentoring the players, she highlighted the mental aspects of being an athlete. She believes that there are a lot of challenges an athlete goes through in terms of specific games, but the mental challenges a player faces are common to all of them. She believes that one of the most important pillars of success for any athlete is the ability to shine under pressure. The experience she has in handling pressure situations with unwavering determination and confidence is a commendable skill that she believes she can impart on the young athletes of RCB. Mental composure and self-belief are what Sania Mirza wants to inculcate in the RCBS’s next generation.
Towards the end of the podcast, Sania appreciated the efforts of the organisers of the Women’s Premier League 2023 and saw it as a revival of women’s sports in India. She also hopes it to be a huge success so that no women or young parents are hesitant to enroll their daughters in sports. She wants this league to be as successful as the Indian Premier League (IPL), which has revolutionised the lives of thousands of men cricketers by providing them with a sound career. She really wants WPL to do the same for the careers of women cricketers, which will revive women’s cricket in India.
The appointment of Sania Mirza as a mentor for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) could be a turning point in the development and growth of sports in the region. The amalgam of her remarkable skill set and more than two decades of experience, along with her unwavering determination, all under one roof, could help young minds at RCB learn beyond the field. All this could help these great athletes to believe in themselves and their abilities and to gear towards their goals with the same commitment and focus that has made Sania Mirza a sports legend and a household name.