JEDDAH, 4 May 2006 — Indian tennis sensation Sania Mirza arrived here yesterday to perform Umrah and to pray at the Prophet’s Mosque in Madianh. She is accompanied by her parents, sister and two other relatives and was received at the airport by close relatives and friends.
Sania is a celebrity in her own right. But she was a different person when she arrived at King Abdul Aziz International Airport here. She seemed to have left her celebrity status behind and was a different person in the holy land, full of religious fervor.
Far from the media glare, Sania was comfortably moving around with her family and it was difficult for people to recognize her in an abaya and “ihram”. However, her face must have looked familiar to people and gradually a crowd started gathering around her to have a look at this tennis prodigy adored by millions of fans world over.
Sania is well known world over. She revolutionized Indian tennis, giving it a new direction. But here, the girl was spiritually charged, relaxing at the waiting area of the airport, far from the glare of publicity and media attention.
Talking to Arab News, the tennis star said a visit to Makkah to perform Umrah was long overdue but she was unable to come due to her busy playing schedule. “I’m on a personal visit and the only thing I want to talk about here and concentrate on is Umrah. I am feeling spiritually uplifted and happy to be here at last to bow my head in “Bait Allah, perform Umrah and offer prayers at the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah”.
Sania and her family are in the Kingdom for four days only — two days each in Makkah and Madinah. She will leave for Hyderabad on Sunday.
A lot has been talked about her in the media. She said that she is a firm believer in Allah.
“What I do in the tennis court or in the endorsement of any product, has no influence on my personal life. I have no problem in doing commercials and any other activities which come to me due to my professional status. But I’m also at ease in performing my religious obligations,” said Sania.
“I’m a totally different person at home,” she added. Her father Imran Mirza said she is very particular about prayers and takes out time to pray. When asked what would she ask for in her prayers, Sania smiled and said, “It’s really personal and let it be personal.”
Air-India’s Sales Manager Saadat Ali Khan assisted the family in clearing formalities at the airport.
