Sania Mirza launches The Next Set to support women athletes
Sania Mirza has launched The Next Set, an initiative to support India’s women athletes with coaching, physiotherapy, training camps and holistic development. Partnering with BNW Developments and Shookra Polyclinics, the programme aims to balance athletic excellence with academic and personal growth
Hyderabad: India’s greatest women’s tennis player and six-time Grand Slam champion Sania Mirza announced The Next Set, an initiative to support India’s leading and emerging women athletes.
Envisioned as a way to give back to the sport, the initiative is designed to help women athletes already competing at a high level prepare for the demands of professional sport.
Starting with tennis, the initiative is built on a two-fold approach. The primary focus of The Next Set is providing access to a dedicated support system — including coaches, physiotherapists and trainers who can travel with players across tournaments, enabling better coordination and preparation throughout the year.
Alongside this, the programme will also conduct focused tennis camps and coaching clinics led by Sania Mirza at her academy, the Sania Mirza Tennis Academy, which will address technical, tactical, physical and mental aspects of performance.
The Next Set has found partners in BNW Developments and Shookra Polyclinics, who, apart from being ardent lovers of the sport, play a vital role in shaping the journey of these athletes, inspiring growth, support and confidence.
Sania said the initiative was deeply personal to her. Having lived the highs and lows of her own journey in the sport, she knew first-hand how transformative the right guidance and mentorship can be at the right time.
“Indian women’s tennis has so much talent and I truly believe that with the right support system, our players can dream bigger and compete on the world stage. The Next Set is my way of giving back and helping create stronger pathways for the next generation,” Sania said.
Ankur Aggarwal, Chairman and Founder of BNW Developments, said they were honoured to be part of the initiative because it reflected their belief in creating strong ecosystems where people are supported to give their best.
“The Next Set is about standing behind women athletes, on and off the court, and being part of their journey in a meaningful way,” he said.
Ankiti Bose, Partner at Terra-Invest and Chairperson of Shookra Clinics, said they were excited to partner with Sania Mirza on The Next Set as a Longevity Partner, since it goes beyond training and looks at holistic athlete development.
“Supporting top talent with the right resources and access to the very best is essential, and we’re glad to be part of a programme that aims to do just that.”
