Why Sania Mirza's mother is going for the London Olympics

Sania Mirza's mother Naseema Mirza is part of the five-member support staff that will accompany the tennis team to the London Olympics. She has been appointed the manager of the team.

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While Naseema has no specialisation, the rest of the members are: India's regular Davis Cup non-playing captain S P Misra, Sanjay Singh (Paes's trainer), Shayamal Vallabhjee (Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna's training consultant) and Milos Galecic (Somdev Devvarman's physio).

However, the AITA has justified her appointment by saying that she had accompanied the Indian women team for Fed Cup and the Asian Games in the past and her vast experience will help the team. She was also manager in the recently held Fed Cup where India won all the ties and also at the Guangzhou Asian Games.

"With her vast experience and India having two lady members in the Olympic team she was considered as the best person to be nominated to look after India's Women team consisting of Sania and Rushmi," an AITA release said.

"Her staying in the Olympic village was considered as an additional advantage as she understands the needs of high pressure competition and how important it is to take care of players' physical comfort and mental well being," the release added.

 

(With agency inputs)

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