Tokyo Olympics: 5 most experienced Indian athletes going to the Games

#2 Sania Mirza (Tennis)

Sania Mirza is a six-time Grand Slam winner

Arguably one of the most successful Indian tennis players, Sania Mirza has come a long way since making her professional debut in 2003. The six-time Grand Slam doubles winner's first appearance at an Olympics was in 2008 Beijing, where she lost her opening singles tie to Czech Republic’s Iveta Benešová. She, however, reached the round of 16 of the women’s doubles event in the company of Sunitha Rao.

A first-round exit was all she managed at the 2012 London Olympics in the women’s doubles event. Sania featured in both the women’s doubles and mixed doubles events four years later, in Rio de Janeiro.

Despite her run with Prarthana Thombare being halted in the first round itself, she reached the semi-finals in mixed doubles with experienced campaigner Mahesh Bhupathi. That was her best performance at the mega-event.

The 34-year-old Sania Mirza will team up with Ankita Raina in the women’s doubles event in Tokyo. The women’s double’s event at the upcoming Games will commence on July 24.