Sports Ministry Approaches UK Government To Help Sania Mirza Take Her Son Along For Wimbledon

The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has approached the UK Government, through the Ministry of External Affairs of Government of India, to grant visa to the two-year-old son of ace tennis player Sania Mirza, so that she can take the toddler with her while she participates in a series of competitions in the United Kingdom, ahead of the Tokyo Olympics.

Image: Twitter/@PIB_India

Sania Mirza, India's tennis star has to travel to England to participate in various competitions including Wimbledon. Mirza's visa application got approved but the visas of her two-year-old boy and the caretaker of the child did not get approved. 

Sania Mirza wrote to the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports for help as she stated that she cannot leave a two-year-old child alone as she travels for more than a month. Mirza is bound to play Nottingham Open on 6th June followed by the Birmingham Open on 14th June, the Eastbourne Open on 20th June, and then finally the Wimbledon on 28th June. 

The Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju was prompt n his response to help India's tennis star. Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Rijiju said, "We received this request for Sania a few days back, and I felt that it is important that as a mother Sania be allowed to take her two-year-old son along so that she can participate with a free mind without worrying for her child back home. I have approved the request and Sports Ministry officials have initiated the process with the MEA. The Sports Ministry's effort has always been to provide every support to our athletes. We are hopeful that the UK Government will see merit in this case and allow the child to travel with Sania," in a press release. 

Sania Mirza is also a part of Sports Ministry's Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS). Sania is going to represent India later in the Tokyo Olympics.