NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday led the accolades for Sania Mirza after she became the first Indian woman to be crowned the world’s top-ranked doubles tennis player.

“An excellent accomplishment @SaniaMirza! Congrats on being World Number 1 in doubles,” Modi, currently on a three-nation European tour, tweeted to his 11.6 million followers.

Sania, 28, climbed to the top of the rankings after she won the Family Circle doubles title in Charleston, United States, on Sunday while partnering Swiss great Martina Hingis.

It was the third successive title for the duo, also the number one doubles pair, after their victories in the hard court events in Indian Wells and Miami.

Messages also poured in from cricket great Sachin Tendulkar, current Test captain Virat Kohli and badminton star Saina Nehwal, who had briefly ranked as the number one singles player earlier this month.

“Congratulations to @SaniaMirza on being crowned World No. 1 in doubles. Terrific achievement and will inspire more to pursue the sport,” Tendulkar tweeted.

Kohli wrote on his Twitter page: “First Saina and now @SaniaMirza. Indian women conquering the No.1 spot and making us proud! Congratulations!”

“I hope this makes girls in India believe that anything is possible,” said Sania.

Published in Dawn, April 14th, 2015

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