Sania and myself have to lead the Muslim world: Rezai

Kolkata, Sep 19 (UNI) For French lass Aravane Rezai, she and Sania Mirza have a responsibility to showcase the muslim girls across the globe, especially in Asia, of their capability.

''I want to show the muslim world what I am capable of. What kind of tennis I play. People should know the quality I possess to beat my opponents,'' Rezai, all of 19, told UNI after brushing aside India's wildcard Ankita Bhambri in the first round match 6-2, 7-6(7-3).

''In this matter, myself and Sania Mirza are both on the same side and we can set an example for the muslim girls to emulate,'' she said.

''I proved I'm capable of flying on my own when I reached the second round of French Open,'' she said adding that Ankita was a good player and hopefully will be able to raise her game by a few notches next year.

Unlike most teenagers, Rezai has already played for two countries. In 2001 and again in 2005, she travelled to Tehran to compete for Iran in the Women's Islamic Games, a quadrinnial event conducted in accordance with Muslim customs. She had won two golds at the event.

''The clay courts used for the women's tennis in Tehran were open only to female spectators and a barrier was put around the exterior of the courts so that the women could compete in shorts and without head-scarves. The games were conceived to allow an opportunity to female Muslim athletes unable to compete in international competitions because of cultural barriers,'' she said.

But Rezai, a Shiite Muslim with French and Iranian nationality, does not have that handicap. She said she went to Iran, where she won the gold medal in singles last year, because of her strong family connections (both her parents were born and raised there).

''I went and played there as my parents were born there. But Iran is not the country from where I will play professional tennis,'' she said.

She said she also went to show her peers in the Muslim world what possibilities exist elsewhere. '' I want to show them what possibilities exist for them,'' she said.

''I try to do my best for the girls who don't have the opportunity to play the sport everywhere in the world, especially in the Middle East, and especially Muslim girls,'' she said. ''I've gone twice to Iran to show them the level of the game, to show them how we train, how we work out.'' Rezai is the second young Muslim woman to make a Grand Slam impact in the last year, coming on the heels of Sania.

The confluence of modern tennis and traditional Islam has been tumultuous more often than not. Last year, a Muslim cleric in India issued a fatwa asking Sania to stop wearing skirts and skin-baring attire on court. However, Rezai is steering clear here. ''I don't want to get into politics or religion,'' she said.

She intends to compete for France, not Iran, in international competitions. ''The Games in Tehran are not an officially sanctioned tennis events and hence they do not affect my eligibility to play for France,'' she added with a smile.

For someone who has a few things to improve in tennis, she is concentrating only on her game. ''I have to work on my volleys and also the way I move on the court. I am working very hard on them,'' she added.

She isn't satisfied either with the way her career has shaped up so far. This, despite the fact that she's enjoying a career-high ranking at present (66), coming on the back of a best-ever showing at a major event - she made it to the fourth round of the US Open this year.

However, the rigours of professional tennis are not enough to take her attention away from her first love - Hindi films. Kajol is her personal favourite. ''I love Hindi films,'' she says. ''I love Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. I also liked Kabhi Khushie Kabhie Gum. I like Shah Rukh Khan also.'' UNI BA KK PM HS1118