Sania Mirza, as much as she has come to be known for her tennis strokes so does she comes in the firing line of orthodox Muslim clerics who feel uncomfortable with her revealing outfits on the court.
While the urdu newspapers carried out news of her triumphant third round victory in the US Open, they also carried out modest legless shots of the 18-year old, reflecting the mood of muslim conservatives ,who on one hand feel proud of her achievements on court while on the other hand, feel queasy about the barely there Tennis skirts and tight T-shirts.
The Muslim clerics feel as Sania is the new role model for Muslim young girls so her dress code can send wrong signals to their minds which may prove detrimental to the Islamic essence.The muslims feel that Tennis is a sport therefore the body shouldnot be unnecessarily displayed.
"We are all proud of Sania’s achievements and want her to do well," said Aslam Razi, advisory member of Jamaat-e-Islaami. "At the same time we can’t understand why she should be wearing the kind of dress she wears on court."
Many like him can’t fathom why Mirza cannot look like the devout Muslim she claims to be on court. "Is there a dress code that says the skirts should be smaller and shirts tighter?" asked Razi. "Why can’t she wear the long skirts and full sleeve shirts that players I’ve seen 25 years ago used to wear on court?"
Maulana Mahmood Dariabadi of Ulema Council, a body of scholars, avers, "It is a sport, not a fashion parade. If people are troubled by her dress she ought to cover herself and play."
Shodhan, a Marathi weekly managed by a Muslim trust has refrained from publishing any of Mirza’s photos "because it will offend sensibilities". "We are a very small paper. We do not have space to carry her pictures. But we may in the future," said editor Sayed Ifthikar Ali.
In fact Sania's father Imran Mirza, taking into view Islamic concerns has written to the Women’s Tennis Association with regard to the dress code and allowing Sania to wear dresses with modest cuts taking into consideration the culture she hails from but it seems there wont be any relaxations in the rules for the benefit of one player..The WTA rule books forbid sweatshirts, sweat pants, T-shirts, jeans and cut-offs, but do not mention skirts at all. His efforts,however, won him accolades from Muslim clerics who feel he may be able to change the thinking of Tennis Association and bring about some changes. "If he thinks like that, it is very good. Hopefully he can do something about it," said Maulana Syed Athar Ali, member of Muslim Personal Board and Ulema Council.
As Sania shot into the pre-quarters of a Grand Slam for the first time, she is also demolishing the stereotype of a third world Muslim girl. "Actually the conservatives are confused. They’re not sure how to react to a phenomenon like her who also has a strong religious background. Mercifully, the Islamic seminary Darul Uloom’s rule on the mandatory veil concentrates only on Muslim women contesting elections and not on sports," said Feroze Mithiborwala, executive council member for Movement in Peace and Justice.
"Though there is a problem with what she wears, we cannot blacklist her," said Maulana Syed Athar Ali, member of Muslim Personal Board and Ulema Council. "But it would be better for us to concentrate on her game and support her rather than discuss what she wears."
Till then guys let the girl focus her energies on her game and not be bothered with these trivial issues. Sania is just like another teenager but full of grit and determination who has really worked hard to reach where she is today..so let us leave it there..to Tennis.
While the urdu newspapers carried out news of her triumphant third round victory in the US Open, they also carried out modest legless shots of the 18-year old, reflecting the mood of muslim conservatives ,who on one hand feel proud of her achievements on court while on the other hand, feel queasy about the barely there Tennis skirts and tight T-shirts.
The Muslim clerics feel as Sania is the new role model for Muslim young girls so her dress code can send wrong signals to their minds which may prove detrimental to the Islamic essence.The muslims feel that Tennis is a sport therefore the body shouldnot be unnecessarily displayed.
"We are all proud of Sania’s achievements and want her to do well," said Aslam Razi, advisory member of Jamaat-e-Islaami. "At the same time we can’t understand why she should be wearing the kind of dress she wears on court."
Many like him can’t fathom why Mirza cannot look like the devout Muslim she claims to be on court. "Is there a dress code that says the skirts should be smaller and shirts tighter?" asked Razi. "Why can’t she wear the long skirts and full sleeve shirts that players I’ve seen 25 years ago used to wear on court?"
Maulana Mahmood Dariabadi of Ulema Council, a body of scholars, avers, "It is a sport, not a fashion parade. If people are troubled by her dress she ought to cover herself and play."
Shodhan, a Marathi weekly managed by a Muslim trust has refrained from publishing any of Mirza’s photos "because it will offend sensibilities". "We are a very small paper. We do not have space to carry her pictures. But we may in the future," said editor Sayed Ifthikar Ali.
In fact Sania's father Imran Mirza, taking into view Islamic concerns has written to the Women’s Tennis Association with regard to the dress code and allowing Sania to wear dresses with modest cuts taking into consideration the culture she hails from but it seems there wont be any relaxations in the rules for the benefit of one player..The WTA rule books forbid sweatshirts, sweat pants, T-shirts, jeans and cut-offs, but do not mention skirts at all. His efforts,however, won him accolades from Muslim clerics who feel he may be able to change the thinking of Tennis Association and bring about some changes. "If he thinks like that, it is very good. Hopefully he can do something about it," said Maulana Syed Athar Ali, member of Muslim Personal Board and Ulema Council.
As Sania shot into the pre-quarters of a Grand Slam for the first time, she is also demolishing the stereotype of a third world Muslim girl. "Actually the conservatives are confused. They’re not sure how to react to a phenomenon like her who also has a strong religious background. Mercifully, the Islamic seminary Darul Uloom’s rule on the mandatory veil concentrates only on Muslim women contesting elections and not on sports," said Feroze Mithiborwala, executive council member for Movement in Peace and Justice.
"Though there is a problem with what she wears, we cannot blacklist her," said Maulana Syed Athar Ali, member of Muslim Personal Board and Ulema Council. "But it would be better for us to concentrate on her game and support her rather than discuss what she wears."
Till then guys let the girl focus her energies on her game and not be bothered with these trivial issues. Sania is just like another teenager but full of grit and determination who has really worked hard to reach where she is today..so let us leave it there..to Tennis.
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