Tennis star Sania Mirza, double's partner Ankita Raina depart for Tokyo Olympics 2021
The duo held their final practice before leaving for Tokyo for the Olympic Games here on Sunday. The two trained at the Sania Mirza Tennis Academy in Hyderabad before moving to Japan.
Indian women's doubles pair of multiple-time Grand Slam winners Sania Mirza and Ankita Raina departed for Tokyo from the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Hyderabad on Monday morning.
The duo held their final practice before leaving for Tokyo for the Olympic Games here on Sunday. The two trained at the Sania Mirza Tennis Academy in Hyderabad before moving to Japan.
Sania Mirza and Ankita Raina will represent India in the women's doubles event at the Tokyo Olympics.
According to the rules, Sania Mirza could choose any Indian from the top 300. Ankita Raina is ranked 95th in doubles and 183rd in singles and she was Sania's first choice.
Next Stop️ Destination Tokyo
— SAIMedia (@Media_SAI) July 19, 2021
Our tennis superstars @MirzaSania & @ankita_champ at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Hyderabad just before leaving for #Tokyo2020
The Games are scheduled from 23 July - 8 August, so don't forget to #Cheer4India and send in your best wishes! pic.twitter.com/N36ywP2Fp5
Apart from the women's double event, India can field a team in mixed doubles as well after India's young tennis star Sumit Nagal also qualified for the Tokyo Olympics recently.
He secured a place in the singles category draw only a week before the Olympics; Although, the country's other tennis star Yuki Bhambri was also given a place but AITA did not send his name due to his injury.
Earlier on Sunday morning, the first batch of Indian players and support staff reached Tokyo on Sunday morning to participate in the Olympic Games. The team entered the sports village after following stringent COVID-19 guidelines at the airport. The 88-member squad consisted of 54 players and the rest of the support staff.