Indian tennis icon Sania Mirza recently shared her personal experiences, shedding light on the emotional and physical hurdles of motherhood while highlighting the imbalance in parenting duties. Speaking frankly on a podcast, she talked about her own experiences as a working mother and brought attention to the sacrifices of mothers worldwide that go under the radar.
A Champion On and Off the Court
Sania Mirza, a world-renowned tennis player and ex-wife of Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik, has not only garnered praise for her achievements on the field but has also demonstrated extraordinary strength and resilience as a mother. Her story is an echo of the quiet battles many mothers battle out of sight, even when they enjoy thriving professional careers.
Motherhood and the Challenges It Brings
During the podcast, Sania openly discussed her journey into motherhood and the challenges that followed. She mentioned that the pre-birth period of her son was quite smooth, but revealed that the actual test came after his birth — particularly the breastfeeding period, which proved physically and mentally taxing.
Being a professional tennis player and a new mother simultaneously was no cakewalk. Sania shared that barely six weeks after giving birth, she had to go back to work. The experience was emotionally draining. “I would cry on flights when leaving my baby behind,” she remembered. Her tale rings true for many working mothers who frequently experience the guilt and anguish of juggling career and family life.
“Mothers Carry the Greater Burden”
Perhaps the most powerful thing Sania said in our interview was that parenting is seldom a 50-50 proposition. “Duties between parents are never 50-50. She confidently stated, “A mother always takes on more. In her view, this is not a problem unique to any particular country — it’s an international problem.
She emphasized that mothers, regardless of their background or profession, give more in every way — emotionally, physically, and of their time. That imbalance, she believes, must be acknowledged and discussed more freely.
Widespread Support from Women
Sania’s emotional words resonated deeply with many women, particularly mothers, on social media. They appreciated her speaking up and appreciated the reality of what she was saying. People on social media admired how she puts being a mother first despite being an international sports celebrity.
One of the users said, “Even being a pro athlete, she prioritizes her child over anything else. Motherhood is undeniably the most demanding and impactful role a person can undertake.
Sania Mirza’s candid insights remind us that motherhood is a nine-to-five job — one that brings with it silent sacrifices and psychological baggage. Her message acts as a great wake-up call reminding us to see and embrace the tremendous effort that mothers perform both at home and in the professional arena.
