Zeenews Bureau

Tennis star Sania Mirza’s life has been mired with controversy ever since she started playing tennis a few years ago. From being slammed by Muslim clerics for wearing un-Islamic clothes to being in the news for disrespecting the national flag, Sania has seen it all.

Sania ‘disrespects’ tri-colour

In January 2008, a case was filed against Sania in a court for allegedly disrespecting the national flag.

The case was filed in the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) court under Section 2 of the Prevention of Insult to the National Honour Act of 1971 by a local resident.

The complainant alleged that Mirza had disrespected the national Tricolour by putting her feet towards the flag during a function whose reports were carried in newspapers.

He alleged that the act of Mirza had hurt his sentiments following which he has filed a case in the court.

Sania’s security withdrawn

Later that year, Hyderabad city commissioner of police issued notices to Sania and others asking them to make necessary payments for the security obtained from City Security Wing (CSW).

Sania was given a gunman each in two shifts. Her security was withdrawn after she "failed" to pay security charges.

Sania Mirza`s father, however, denied reports that the family had refused to pay for the tennis player`s security and said the delay was a result of miscommunication with the government.

AP record shows Sania Mirza belongs to BPL family

Tennis star Sania Mirza may be a millionaire but her face appeared on a ration card belonging to a below poverty line (BPL) family in Andhra Pradesh.

The white ration card, which makes a family eligible to get rice at a highly-subsidised price of Rs 2-a-kg and social security benefits health insurance and a permanent housing, was issued to one Laxmi of Vizianagaram district with a photograph of Sania.

Youth held for threatening Sania, says he is in love

In July 2008, a youth was arrested for allegedly making threatening calls to Tennis star Sania Mirza and creating nuisance at her residence demanding that she cancels her engagement to Sohrab Mirxza.

Mohammed Ashraf (28), a civil engineering student who claimed to be in love with the 22-year-old tennis player, was allegedly sending messages and making threatening calls to her mobile phone asking her to cancel her engagement.

Ashraf went to Sania`s house at Banjara Hills and allegedly entered an argument with her father asking him to cancel her engagement as that he was in love with her.

Ashraf was booked under various sections of IPC and was being produced before a court today, the police officer said.

Sania Mirza`s engagement called off

Sania’s engagement, with a childhood friend, Mohammed Sohrab Mirza, was called off citing incompatibility.

The tennis star`s father, Imran, who also coaches and manages her career, confirmed annulling of the relationship.

Sania too refused to give the exact reasons, just confirming the news.

"We were friends for half a decade, but found ourselves incompatible during our engagement period. I wish Sohrab the best in life," she said.

Mohammed Sohrab, studying business in the United Kingdom, and Sania were formally engaged a few months ago.