Sania Mirza, a tennis legend from India who completed her final Grand Slam at the Australian Open last month, has been appointed as the mentor of the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) squad in the first Women’s Premier League (WPL).
“It is a pleasure for me to join the RCB women’s team as a mentor. Indian women’s cricket has seen a tectonic shift with the Women’s Premier League, and I am really looking forward to being a part of this revolutionary pitch. RCB and its brand philosophy perfectly resonates with my vision and outlook as that’s how I have approached my playing career and it’s also how I see contributing to sports post my retirement,” Mirza said in a statement issued by the franchise.
After finishing second in the mixed doubles competition with her partner Rohan Bopanna at the Australian Open earlier this year, Mirza announced her retirement from the sport. She has stated that the ATP Dubai Open later this month will serve as her final competition before joining the brand.
On the appointment of Mirza as mentor, Rajesh V Menon, head and vice president of RCB said, “We are glad and honoured to welcome Sania Mirza as mentor of the RCB women’s team. She is the perfect role model with her success stemming out of her sheer hard work, passion, and determination, despite many challenges in her playing career.”
During the WPL auction on Monday in Mumbai, RCB acquired 18 players, including some notable women’s cricket players like Smriti Mandhana, Australia’s Ellyse Perry and medium-pacer Megan Schutt, New Zealand captain Sophie Devine, England captain Heather Knight, South African all-rounder Dane Van Niekerk, and India’s top under-19 player Richa Ghosh.
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