Tennis ace Sania Mirza shuts down TV journalist Rajdeep Sardesai for asking 'sexist' question on air, making him apologise. Twitterati then takes to social media to troll the senior journalist
Sania Mirza, Rajdeep Sardesai
Sania Mirza is India's tennis superstar and the World No. 1 in women's doubles ranking. She has been making the country proud in the tennis arena with her feats and is without doubt one of the most successful Indian athletes of all time. And she's only 29 years old.
We all should be saluting her for being such a great role model for both men and women. But that seems to be not enough for some people whose gender insensitivity can leave most of us astounded.
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Also view photos: Shah Rukh Khan unveils Sania Mirza's autobiography
Sania Mirza's return to Rajdeep's serve was brilliant. Pic/AFP
While talking to TV journalist Rajdeep Sardesai after the launch of her autobiography titled 'Ace Against Odds', Sania was asked a extremely sexist question on air on Thursday. And her response to it was EPIC!
The star athlete deftly took Sardesai's question about motherhood and her plans to settle down with the same aplomb she displays on court and then promptly gave a powerful return that caught the senior anchor flat-footed.
The senior journalist, to his credit, apologised on air and admitted that he would not have asked a male athlete that question.
HERE'S THE EXCHANGE:
Rajdeep: Amidst all the celebrityhood, when is Sania going to settle down? Is it going to be in Dubai? Is it going to be in any other country? What about motherhood… building a family… I don’t see all that in the book, it seems like you don’t want to retire just yet to settle down.
Sania: You don’t think I’m settled?
Rajdeep: You don’t talk about retirement, about raising a family, about motherhood, what’s life beyond tennis is going to be…
Sania: You sound disappointed that I’m not choosing motherhood over being number one in the world at this point of time. But I’ll answer your question anyway, that’s the question I face all the time as a woman, that all women have to face — the first is marriage and then it’s motherhood. Unfortunately, that’s when we’re settled, and no matter how many Wimbledons we win or number ones in the world we become, we don’t become settled. But eventually it will happen, not right now. And when it does happen I’ll be the first one to tell everybody when I plan to do that.
Rajdeep: I must apologise, I framed that question very badly. I promise you, you’re right, I would never ask this question to a male athlete…
Sania: I’m so glad, you’re the first journalist to apologise to me on national television.
Sania went on to later say, "(hope my achievements set a precedent that) no girl is asked at the age of 29 as to when she is going to have a child when she's number one in the world... that's no settling in."
This interaction led to Sardesai being trolled on Twitter.
HERE ARE SOME OF THE REACTIONS:
What a shot, bechara #RajdeepSardesai ढà¥ÂÂu00c2u008bल बनà¤ÂÂu00c2u0097या हà¥ÂÂu00c2u0088, bajao
— Dilip (@SanklechaD) July 14, 2016
@MirzaSania many congrats in showing the so-called journo #RajdeepSardesai his place.proud of u. more power to girls like u, take a bow.
— Bhavya (@bhavya1705) July 14, 2016
I've not been a huge fan of #SaniaMirza but her reply to #RajdeepSardesai was a befitting slap on the face of the patriarchal indian notions
— Bai-lain-do (@SarinG17) July 14, 2016
Haha! Why does #RajdeepSardesai ask for trouble?! #SaniaMirza Slams Sardesai for Asking Her about ‘Settling Down’ https://t.co/Ft95KiKsI6
— G (@gunjangovani) July 14, 2016
Loved #SaniaMirza reply to #RajdeepSardesai on motherhood!
— Kritika Rawat (@KSR625) July 14, 2016
And that's how patriarchy cuts a 'sorry' figure. #RajdeepSardesai #SaniaMirza
— vipra shrivastava (@Vipra_s) July 14, 2016
Not just #JenniferAniston, #SaniaMirza shut down #RajdeepSardesai on motherhood too https://t.co/U5PGTGRD52 pic.twitter.com/m5vrSpSikE
— Fashion101.in (@Fashion101in) July 14, 2016
#SaniaMirza karara jawab to #RajdeepSardesai on his Q to her about motherhood / retirement / settling down
— Sameera Gawandi (@sameeratweeter) July 14, 2016
Her reply to him
He apologised
#SaniaMirza is not just a brilliant athlete, she's smart and independent to go with it. All women proud of ans on motherhood.
— Saba Naqvi (@_sabanaqvi) July 14, 2016
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