Hyderabad, July 20: After winning the grand slam title in Junior Girls Doubles event at Wimbledon, India's teen tennis sensation Sania Mirza has set her eyes on bigger challenges and plans to go abroad for a physical fitness training programme.

"Next year Sania should be going abroad for a physical training programme," her coach Mahesh Bhupathi said in an informal chat with reporters at a function here yesterday.
"We will be cutting down on her junior level tournaments in the coming days and lay more focus on her physical training programme to strengthen her base," Bhupathi, whose company Globosport has been taking care of Sania's coaching, said. When asked to elaborate on what type of physical fitness programme Bhupathi has in mind for the 16-year-old champ, who became the first Indian woman to win a grand slam, Bhupathi said "Her base has to be strengthened to match her European counterparts who are very strong and fit".

The programme would help Sania move faster and endure longer games more so in singles, he said.



Earlier, Sania said Europeans have strong legs and can endure long rallies but it is difficult for the Indians to stretch the game to the desired extent.


Bureau Report