Sania Mirza targets comeback by year end

Bengaluru: India’s tennis star Sania Mirza is planning to make a return to the game by year end following the birth of her baby.

The 32-year-old had last played at the China Open in October, 2017 where she suffered a knee injury and was out of competition in early part of last year.

In October, Sania had delivered a baby boy and the Indian ace said she now wants to return to the game and would start her training soon.

“Realistic possibility for comeback is by the end of the year,” she said here. “My conditioning trainer is coming in the next ten days. Now that I have lost weight, I do tennis specific training.

“I am 32 years old, I am not so young as a tennis player. But I would die if I did not try. Tennis is my life, it has given me everything. I still have it.”

Sania said she looks up to German legend Steffi Graf, a winner of 22 Grand Slam titles, as she has achieved a lot even after marriage and having a kid.

“Steffi Graf is someone I look up to. I am still star struck whenever I see her. She is a great example because people say a woman cannot have to it all, but she had it all,” she said.