Inclusion of mixed doubles event in the London Olympics has come as fresh motivation for Sania Mirza to continue playing and the Indian tennis ace feels it would be best opportunity for India to win a medal.

The International Olympic Committee had recently given its nod to the mixed doubles event for the 2012 Summer Games.

Sania Mirza has slipped seven places to 70th position in the Women Tennis Association (WTA) singles rankings.

Sania is suffering from chronic wrist injury and has pulled out of the ongoing US Open.
Mirza, who had surgery on her wrist in April, retired from her first-round singles match in Beijing.
“It’s very disappointing for me to miss the U.S. Open, I’ve always done well in this tournament,” said the 21-year-old Mirza, who reached the fourth round in 2005.

Sania Mirza needs to prove that she is more than czarina of foofaraw when the tennis aces begin their campaign in the Beijing Olympic Games .
Sania will open her campaign at Beijing against Czech Republic’s Ivita Benesova and despite her indifferent form the Indian is confident that she can deliver a quality performance at the Games.

A very optimistic yet rational Sania Mirza said, “You know it is very different. Grand Slam happens about 30, 40, 50 times in your life. Olympics happen maybe just once in your life time and if you are lucky twice. I want to just do my best. I don’t want to put any additional pressure on myself and say right I’m not going to go back without a medal. But yes, that’s the goal. I really can’t compare a grand slam title to a gold medal because I think they are two very big feats in two very different ways so that’s something if I had to pick I would pick both.”

But Sania faces a tough challenge in her Olympic campaign. She takes on Iveta Benesova of Czech Republic in the 1st round and if she manages to overcome her she’d run into Venus Williams. Not a very exciting prospect for Sania whose Olympic preparations were hampered by a thigh injury but she’s hoping that Beijing brings the smile on her face after an indifferent year.

Sania Mirza will play her singles against Iveta Benesova of Czechoslovakia.

In women’s doubles Sania and Sunitha Rao will begin their medal hunt against France. Weather permitting the two will play Tatiana Golovin and Paulin Permentier in their first round on Monday.

It has been raining incessantly and only nine matches were completed on Sunday, first day of tennis competition.