NEW DELHI, Jan 11: India’s Sania Mirza needs to be left in peace to focus on her game and an elusive Olympic medal this year, Indian tennis chief Anil Khanna said on Friday.

His appeal came in the wake of a petition filed in a local court this week alleging the 21-year-old had shown disrespect to the national flag during the Hopman Cup mixed team event.

“Sania needs to be left alone,” Khanna said. “She has got a very important year ahead of her. More importantly in the Olympics, she will be playing in the women’s singles and she has a great chance of winning a medal in women’s doubles.

“It will bring tremendous glory for the country.”

Sania, a Muslim, became the first Indian woman to win a tour title in 2005 and quickly established herself as the darling of success-starved Indian sports fans and a youth icon for her fashionable dresses and earrings.

The world number 31, gearing up for the Australian Open starting on Monday, won praise for her sharp game at the Hopman Cup after her 2007 season ended early due to injury.

However, she has faced a series of complaints since she came under the spotlight.

In the petition, the court in Bhopal has directed Sania to appear before it on March 10.

“I earnestly request all people to leave her alone,” Khanna said. “The people, media, they should not drag her into situations which are uncalled for.

“These things are weighing very heavily on her mind and are affecting her performance,” he insisted. “The day the petition was filed, she lost in the quarter-final in Hobart. Sania is a great nationalist and she has the highest regard for the national flag.”—Reuters