Want to be number 1 before I retire: Tennis ace Sania Mirza

HYDERABAD: Indian tennis ace Sania Mirza today said she wants to reach No. 1 position in the world rankings before bidding adieu to the game.

"I am six in the world and I would like to be number 1 before I retire," the tennis player replied to a query on her professional career in future.

She participated in an interactive session in CII Young Indians ' Youth Conclave'.

Replying to another query, she said India needs to go a long way as far as inculcating sporting culture among youth, particularly girls, is concerned.

"But it has changed a lot. And I hope it would change a lot (further), where girls don't have to face difficult situations (in choosing sports as career). We have a long way to go before parents actually believe that their daughters can become professional athletes," she said.

She said she did not opt tennis as her career for money or fame, but because it was her passion.

Sania said she had to face a lot of criticism when she started her career and overcame successfully.