Didn't say there is no respect for women in India: Sania Mirza

Sania Mirza

New Delhi, Nov 26 (IANS)

India's tennis star Sania Mirza Wednesday took to Twitter to deny that she said there is no respect for women in India. Sania Mirza was appointed the United Nations Goodwill Ambassador for the South Asian region by UN Women at an event held to mark the International Day To End Violence Against Women Tuesday. She reportedly said that "women face discrimination and are treated like animals".

The Grand Slam winner Tuesday said she intends to educate women about gender equality, which, in her opinion, is a cultural problem where women feel they are second-class citizens.

Thank you #UNWomen for giving me this opportunity. Took Oath as #UNGoodwillAmbassador in #delhi pic.twitter.com/QZflSvYQXh

— Sania Mirza (@MirzaSania) November 25, 2014

Just to make a couple of things very clear - I did NOT say that there is no respect for women in India..i am the ambassador for the region-

— Sania Mirza (@MirzaSania) November 26, 2014

And I would never be where I am today if the country had'nt given me all this love..but I am fortunate,very fortunate..there are milllions-

— Sania Mirza (@MirzaSania) November 26, 2014

of women who are less fortunate in this part of the world,and hav been victims of abuse,physical or sexual,hav not been allowed to follow-

— Sania Mirza (@MirzaSania) November 26, 2014

their dreams cause they were a 'girl'! So whether u guys like to accept it or not,this is the truth..and yes I do believe that if I was a-

— Sania Mirza (@MirzaSania) November 26, 2014

A man,i would not hav faced certain unnecessary controversies that I did! And some language that is being used here on twitter does'nt seem-

— Sania Mirza (@MirzaSania) November 26, 2014

too respectful to me!! So some of u need to clean ur tongue first before wanting to claim that u respect women and people in general!

— Sania Mirza (@MirzaSania) November 26, 2014

and read the whole article,not just a sensationalized headline before commenting pls.. cause the headline is exactly what certain media-

— Sania Mirza (@MirzaSania) November 26, 2014

uses to grab ur attention! I hav made myself very clear..and will stand for what I believe in and address the issue of gender inequality..

— Sania Mirza (@MirzaSania) November 26, 2014