Sania Mirza Becomes 1st Indian to Win Fed Cup Heart Award

Tennis ace Sania Mirza became the first Indian to win the Fed Cup Heart Award for her successful return to court after a maternity break earlier this year. Her son Izhaan was only 18 months old when she made a comeback.

The 33-year-old was playing the Fed Cup after four years and helped India qualify for the playoffs for the first time in history. She won the crucial doubles match that helped Team India bag a victory over Indonesia in their final Group 1 match and they finished second in the group. All along her infant was in the stands.

Sania Mirza becomes the First Indian to win Fed cup Heart award;announces to donate the prize money to #Telangana CM Relief fund.

The award recognise players who have represented their country with distinction,shown exceptional courage on court during Fed Cup pic.twitter.com/GWNYoSEndc

— All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) May 11, 2020

Sania Mirza,The former world number one in doubles and six-time Grand Slam champion received $2000 as prize money.

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Mirza beat Indonesia’s 16-year-old Priska Madelyn Nugroho for the award in Asia/Oceania regional category.

“It’s an honour to win the Fed Cup Heart Award as the first Indian. I dedicate this award to the entire country and to all my fans and thank everyone for voting for me. I hope to bring more laurels to the country in the future,” Mirza said in a statement issued by the All India Tennis Association.

It’s an honor to win the Fed cup Heart award as the first Indian and first person from the subcontinent.this award is for the entire country and to all my fans and thank everyone for the votes .❤️ @FedCup @AITA__Tennis pic.twitter.com/8L6HHCTpPd

— Sania Mirza (@MirzaSania) May 11, 2020

The former world number one in doubles and six-time Grand Slam champion received $2000 as prize money, which she has decided to donate to the Telangana Chief Minister’s Relief Fund to fight the Covid-19 pandemic.

I want to donate the funds that I get from this award to the Telangana CM relief Fund as the world is going through very difficult times with the virus .. thank you all 🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/bdK3WeUxkK

— Sania Mirza (@MirzaSania) May 11, 2020

Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju was among the first to congratulate the tennis star. “The award is a befitting recognition of your hard work…” he wrote.

Congratulations Sania Mirza on becoming the First Indian to win Fed Cup Heart award!
The award is a befitting recognition of your hardwork and the distinction that you have shown on court making India proud🇮🇳 https://t.co/xAEATzIHOg

— Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) May 11, 2020

Others on social media soon joined in.

Six- Time Grand Slam Champion Sania Mirza has sent out a strong message to all women that motherhood should be treated as a stepping stone and not as an obstacle.#saniamirza #MondayMotivation pic.twitter.com/qgRYIwZZKH

— FISTO (from 🏡) (@FISTOSPORTS) May 11, 2020

The winners of the Fed Cup Award were determined via online voting by fans. Mirza’s vote share of over 60 per cent of the total votes is a testimony to her popularity at the competition.

The Fed Cup Heart Award is an International Tennis Federation initiative that was established in 2009 to recognise those Fed Cup players who represent their countries with distinction, show exceptional courage on court and demonstrate outstanding commitment to the ideals of the competition.