INDIA: TENNIS - India's Sania Mirza and Leander Paes will play together in the inaugural Asian Hopman Cup in Hyderabad

Record ID: 1374310

  • Title: INDIA: TENNIS - India's Sania Mirza and Leander Paes will play together in the inaugural Asian Hopman Cup in Hyderabad
  • Date: 5th November 2006
  • Summary: HYDERABAD, ANDHRA PRADESH, INDIA (NOVEMBER 4, 2006) (ANI) INDIAN TENNIS PLAYER SANIA MIRZA AT NEWS CONFEERNCE (SOUNDBITE) (English/Hindi) SANIA MIRZA, INDIAN TENNIS STAR, SAYING: "For me to play with Leander (Paes), last time I played with him was four years back. I think it is very exciting. Especially, tennis as a sport, our minister was saying it's growing so much in our country. I think it is great that we have tournaments like these and they are stepping stones to bigger things" REPORTERS AND CAMERAMEN (SOUNDBITE) (English) SANIA MIRZA, INDIAN TENNIS STAR, SAYING: "Any tournament is tough especially when you are playing players, like, you know he said, China and Thailand, they have Paradorn Srichaphan, you know, Tamarine Tanasugam, I am sure you have heard of all these people and the Chinese team, I think, when they are playing Fed Cup, their lowest players are ranked around 75 or 80. So, you know it is going to be tough. It will be exciting playing them." BANNER READING: 'ASIAN HOPMAN CUP'
  • Embargoed: 20th November 2006 16:12
  • Keywords:
  • Location: India
  • Country: India
  • Topics: People,Sport
  • Reuters ID: LVAB9P96RKVZVCJIIP7QDDZGB109
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  • Story Text: India's Sania Mirza and Leander Paes will play together in the inaugural Asian Hopman Cup in Hyderabad, it was announced on Saturday (November 4).
    The championship beginning on November 22 will bring together India, China, Thailand, Japan, Uzbekistan and Chinese Taipei.
    Mirza told a news conference in Hyderabad, her home city: "For me to play with Leander (Paes), last time I played with him was four years back. I think it is very exciting. Especially, tennis as a sport, our minister was saying it's growing so much in our country. I think it is great that we have tournaments like these and they are stepping stones to bigger things."
    Brushing aside questions about her disappointing year, Mirza said she had learned from her mistakes and was looking forward to a tough competition.
    "Any tournament is tough especially when you are playing players, like, you know he said, China and Thailand, they have Paradorn Srichaphan, you know, Tamarine Tanasugam, I am sure you have heard of all these people and the Chinese team, I think, when they are playing Fed Cup, their lowest players are ranked around 75 or 80. So, you know it is going to be tough. It will be exciting playing them," said Mirza, who ranks 67th in the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) ratings.
    Indian doubles specialist Mahesh Bhupathi will play in the Asian Games after reversing his decision to boycott the event. The 32-year-old quit the squad in October after the national federation paired Mirza with Paes, Bhupathi's former doubles partner. Bhupathi has been paired with the second-ranked woman player, Shikha Uberoi, in the games being held in December in Qatar.
  • Copyright Holder: ANI (India)
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