In a match-up between two twenty-year-olds, Russian Anna Chakvetadze defeated Indian Sania Mirza, 6-3, 6-2.
Two years ago, when Mirza—a Muslim from a predominantly non-Muslim Hindu country—came onto the U.S. tennis scene, she was the target of Islamic Jihadist death threats because she wore short pants and (somewhat) revealing tops.
Extremists wanted her to play in a dress that covers her whole body and face.
Said Siddiqullah Chowdhry, leader of Jamaat-e-Ulema-e-Hind:
”What she wears offends Islam. She will be stopped from playing if she doesn't adhere to it."
Police were deployed to protect Mirza in case the threats against her were carried out.[Sania Mirza Will Not Change Dress—Ready to Face Islamic Threats, Kiran Chacube, India Daily, September 16, 2005]
But during the two-week long Bank of the West tournament, not a mention was made of Mirza’s tennis outfits.
Good for Mirza for not backing down. Let’s hope she serves as a model for other Muslim women to adopt traditional western clothing.
