Talat Aziz
The All-India Tennis Association (AITA) may have rejected Sania Mirza's criticism that she was "used as bait" to pacify Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi for the Olympics, even questioning the timing of her outburst, but her family totally supports her stand. "She said what she felt....
What's wrong with that? Every individual has a right to express his feelings," says her uncle, singer Talat Aziz.Sania should not have raked this up right now. But Talat says, "It's an emotional outburst. I'm sure she must have been very hurt to say what she did. Sania is an emotional person... it's her father who is a calming influence in her life. In fact, I believe creative people, and that includes sportspersons too, are sensitive and what has been going on the past few weeks is bound to upset anybody. And remember, Sania is India's top woman player and made the country proud. She wasn't happy with the manner in which she was treated and expressed it. AITA should have been more careful. The association could have discussed things with her before making an announcement. They should've given Sania her due."
Talat feel her achievements have been forgotten by people in the midst of this controversy? "Public memory is short and people tend to forget... I say this from personal experience. I've had people come up to me today and say, 'Oh, we didn't know you sang in the original 'Umrao Jaan'." But that doesn't apply in Sania's case, he says. "She is young and has a huge following. Everyone was happy when she won the Mixed Doubles title at the French Open recently.
She has gone through a lot but has bounced back. My best wishes are always with her. We met in Hyderabad in March for her second wedding anniversary. It was a lot of fun."dance reality show Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa. "I'm enjoying doing something I've never done. And yes, I am getting a great response from people across the globe," he says.
What's wrong with that? Every individual has a right to express his feelings," says her uncle, singer Talat Aziz.Sania should not have raked this up right now. But Talat says, "It's an emotional outburst. I'm sure she must have been very hurt to say what she did. Sania is an emotional person... it's her father who is a calming influence in her life. In fact, I believe creative people, and that includes sportspersons too, are sensitive and what has been going on the past few weeks is bound to upset anybody. And remember, Sania is India's top woman player and made the country proud. She wasn't happy with the manner in which she was treated and expressed it. AITA should have been more careful. The association could have discussed things with her before making an announcement. They should've given Sania her due."
Talat feel her achievements have been forgotten by people in the midst of this controversy? "Public memory is short and people tend to forget... I say this from personal experience. I've had people come up to me today and say, 'Oh, we didn't know you sang in the original 'Umrao Jaan'." But that doesn't apply in Sania's case, he says. "She is young and has a huge following. Everyone was happy when she won the Mixed Doubles title at the French Open recently.
She has gone through a lot but has bounced back. My best wishes are always with her. We met in Hyderabad in March for her second wedding anniversary. It was a lot of fun."dance reality show Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa. "I'm enjoying doing something I've never done. And yes, I am getting a great response from people across the globe," he says.
