Former Indian tennis star Sania Mirza has spoken candidly about experiencing bouts of depression during the peak of her career, stressing the importance of open conversations around mental health in sports.
Sania, who had earlier discussed her struggles on her podcast, reflected on how athletes often face emotional challenges behind the scenes, even while performing at the highest level. Her remarks come amid growing discussions about mental well-being in sports, including cricketer Jemimah Rodrigues’ recent admission about dealing with anxiety during the Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025.
‘Mental Health Wasn’t Spoken About Earlier’
Talking about why such conversations matter, Sania said awareness around mental health has only gained momentum in the last eight to ten years.
“It is very important to talk about mental health. I spoke about it quite late in life because earlier we were not really aware. There was a lot of stigma and shame attached to it in society,” she said, adding that she is glad the silence around the subject is slowly breaking.
Athletes Are Human, Not Machines
Sania highlighted the unrealistic expectations placed on sportspersons, noting that athletes are often viewed as “robots” rather than individuals with emotions.
“As sports people, our lives can be very robotic, but we are real human beings with real feelings. Everyone has struggles. Being mentally vulnerable and sharing that with the world is very difficult, but it is the only way to acknowledge and accept it,” she explained.
She added that public figures have a responsibility to speak about issues that often remain unspoken.
Battling Depression Off the Court
Reflecting on her own journey, Sania revealed that she struggled with depression while also dealing with personal matters that were widely discussed in the media early in her career.
“I went through a couple of bouts of depression. I was dealing with a lot of things off the court as well. I did go through my lows and spoke about them much later in life,” she said.
Praises Jemimah Rodrigues for Courage
Sania praised Jemimah Rodrigues for opening up about anxiety during a high-pressure phase of her career, calling it an act of immense courage.
“It takes a lot of bravery to be vulnerable when the whole world is watching you, especially when you are at a high point in your career. Her speaking about it shows sportspersons as normal human beings,” she said.
A Message for Young Athletes
Sania concluded by urging younger athletes to prioritise their mental well-being.
“As sportspersons, we move from match to match and tournament to tournament. Sometimes we forget to pause and acknowledge that it’s too much. Hopefully, this gives young people the courage to understand that there is no shame or weakness in feeling the way they do.”
