India's best bet of Rio Olympic medal is mixed doubles: Sania Mirza

Mumbai, July 17: With just 18 days to go for the world's biggest sporting extravaganza -- the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janerio -- India's tennis star Sania Mirza on Sunday pointed out that though mixed doubles is the toughest event, there is no doubt that it is the country's best bet of winning a medal at the Games.

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The 29-year-old, who is ranked World No.1 in women's doubles, will be partnering Rohan Bopanna in the mixed doubles event at the Rio Games starting on August 5.

"I am looking forward to the Rio Olympics. It is my third Olympics. Obviously there is no guarantee in sports, all you can do is go and give your best and that's what I and Bopanna are going to try and do, and do whatever we can and win a medal at the Games. Rest is up to God," Sania told IANS in an interview.

"See, I think this is the toughest among other events in tennis. There are top mixed doubles players from the world coming to compete. There will be world's top 10 players; it will surely be a challenging event. But at the end of the day, mixed doubles is the best bet we have in tennis to win a medal," the Mumbai-born, who will play in her third Olympics, said.

Sania will also be partnering with 22-year-old Prarthana Thombare in the women's doubles and the Hyderabadi believes that it will be a great experience and a dream come true for the youngster to represent her country in Olympics at such a young age.

IANS