The enigma that is Sania Mirza - tennis star and so much more

Not too long ago, Time magazine named Sania Mirza among a group of people who would create and change history.

Mirza is an exceptionally talented tennis player, with a forehand as hard as Steffi Graf's and the potential to be No. 1 (at least in doubles). It is not just her talent which won this prestigious honour - after all neither Justine Henin, Jelena Jankovic nor Maria Sharapova were singled out . So what did Sania have that prompted the gong?

Mirza is from India, and I am proud to say she is a fellow Hyderabadi and comes from a devout Muslim family. Yes, the novelty factor of an Indian coming up the ranks in WTA is part of the issue. But that was just coincidental.

In India, despite great economic progress, gender equality has a long way to go. We have one of the lowest gender ratios in the world and dowry deaths are not uncommon. Girls are treated as a liability in many rural and even some urban parts.