Sports Ministry approaches UK government to allow Sania Mirza's son to accompany her during UK tour

Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Kiren Rijiju said that he is hopeful of getting UK visa for Sania’s 2-year-old son for the UK tour.

Sania MIrza file photo; Credit: Sania Mirza Twitter page
By Karthik Raman | May 19, 2021 | 2 Min Read follow icon Follow Us

In the lead up to Tokyo Olympics, Sania Mirza will train and participate in competitions in the United Kingdom. The Indian tennis star is eager to take her 2-year-old son along with her during the month-long UK tour. In this regard, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has approached the UK Government, through the Ministry of External Affairs of Government of India, to grant visa to the two-year-old son of Sania.

Sania will be participating in the Nottingham Open on 6th June followed by the Birmingham Open on 14th June, the Eastbourne Open on 20th June. She will then participate in the grasscourt Grand Slam, Wimbledon, on 28th June. Sania has been granted a visa to travel to Nottingham. However, her son and his caretaker have not received UK visas due to the travel restrictions on Indian travellers.

Sania, who is a part of the Sports Ministry’s Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), approached the Ministry requesting for help with the visa of her son and his caretaker. Mirza stated that she cannot leave a two-year-old child behind as she travels for a month.

The request was immediately taken up by the Sports Ministry and a letter has already been sent to MEA requesting them to take up the matter in the UK through the Indian Embassy in London.

Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Kiren Rijiju said he is hopeful that the UK government will “allow the child to travel with Sania” for the tour. Kiren Rijiju said, “We received this request for Sania a few days back, and I felt that it is important that as a mother Sania be allowed to take her two-year-old son along so that she can participate with a free mind without worrying for her child back home.”

“I have approved the request and Sports Ministry officials have initiated the process with the MEA. The Sports Ministry’s effort has always been to provide every support to our athletes. We are hopeful that the UK Government will see merit in this case and allow the child to travel with Sania,” he added.