By IANS
Kolkata : Sachin Tendulkar came, saw and conquered the hearts of his fans – but with a racquet rather than a bat. But he rued not playing Sania Mirza, one of the hardest hitters of the tennis ball.
At the Netaji Indoor Stadium, the spectators had a lot to cheer about as three of the top sporting icons of India came together with a glamour lady of tennis for a fun game and to promote the Sunfest Open. Sania was present, as one cheering the trio.
Cricket maestro Sachin and Indian soccer’s pin-up boy Baichung Bhutia put on their shorts and picked up the racquet for a game of doubles with regulars on the circuit – Mahesh Bhupathi and Maria Kirilenko.
“I was practising hard. There has been a lot of planning,” Sachin said. “I even had sleepless nights.”
Perhaps he had, at least his first serves indicated so. They were hard, when they landed. Then there was a drop shot with a heavy back-spin that had Mahesh scampering to return.
Sachin partnered Kirilenko, the newest glam sensation of world tennis, while Mahesh had Baichung as his mate.
The match did have a winner 3-1 for Sachin and Maria, but then few cared for the score. On Tuesday evening, it was a win-win situation for the crowd, the icons and, of course, tennis.
Tennis has always been close to Sachin’s heart and as a child he wanted to be a John McEnroe. He even sported a headband so that people identified him with the left-handed American.
Sachin was not happy with the fact that Sania could not play. “She is a fine hitter of the ball. I often see how well and hard she hits. It’s a sad thing that she can’t play today.”
But Sania crooned perched atop the chair-umpire’s seat.
Bhutia, who plays the bigger ball better, walked into the court and straightaway got into doing some stretching exercises. He was quite stiff to begin with and looked as if he would have been more comfortable using his feet.
“I have never played a tennis match before, but after today, I think I’ll take this game seriously. Maybe, next time you see me I will be partnering Mahesh in Wimbledon,” Baichung said later.
Sachin was in the city to promote Sunfeast Open. At a media meet he put his hand imprint on a plaque that is going to be at the Avenue of Stars at Millennium park in the city that already has hand imprints of Mahesh, Sania and Martina Hingis.
“I have followed tennis very closely. Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi matches have always excited me. Now with Sania the following is gone to another level,” Sachin said, when asked if he followed tennis.
He is a big fan of Pete Sampras and Roger Federer and refused to decide a winner if the duo were pitched on either side of the court. “They are both great players and one has to lose in a match. I don’t want to decide that. I would be enjoying that match for sure. It will be wrong to compare one with the other,” he added.
Sania at this point added, “I am so biased. I would pick Roger Federer. He is a perfectionist. And in sports it’s such a rare quality.”
Asked what she would have been if not a tennis player, Sania said, “I would have become a swimmer. And had I been a boy, I would surely have been a cricketer.”
Sania, who looked flushed with excitement, said: “Sachin has always been my hero. In India growing up and not loving cricket is impossible. It’s no different for me. I have simply admired the way he has played all these years and the way he has handled pressure.
“I mean, people ask if Sachin should retire when he makes a 97. They expect a 100 every time he walks out. It’s a great pleasure watching him play,” she added.
Sachin, who plays all the racquet sports starting from table tennis to squash and tennis, believes that people should start promoting other sports too.
“People should start appreciating the other sports too. If the filmmakers start making films on sports that have an appeal then I’m sure there will be more,” he said.