adidas, the world’s leading sports brand, today signed a multi-year partnership effective immediately with Indian tennis sensation, Sania Mirza. Signing Sania, one of the most promising tennis stars and an Asian youth icon, highlights adidas’ commitment to being the dominant international tennis brand and the importance of India in the brand’s vision.
Speaking in Mumbai, Hartwin Feddersen, Director of Marketing, adidas India said, “Sania Mirza is one of the most recognizable faces of global tennis and is a youth icon amongst young Asians across the world. This is a big moment for adidas and for Indian sports. Sania Mirza’s appeal goes well beyond tennis and the sporting world and it’s only natural for us to use her as a global brand ambassador for adidas. She is a perfect fit for our brand as she personifies the passion, energy and boldness that adidas stands for. We welcome her into the adidas family and look forward to a long association with her.”
Sania’s relationship with adidas dates back several years. She was a part of the adidas Aces Junior Tennis Programme as a trail-blazing junior. She won the 2003 Wimbledon Juniors Doubles Title and the 2005 Hyderabad Open Singles Title wearing the 3-Stripes.
Commenting on the partnership with adidas, Sania Mirza said, “I am extremely happy to be part of such a distinguished family of players and brand ambassadors. I believe adidas’ experience and expertise will be a key part of my on-court performance in the future. I am really looking forward to wearing the stylish 3-Stripes for many years to come.”
“Sania is a terrific addition to the adidas family,” said Jim Latham, Head of Global Sports Marketing Tennis at adidas. “Together with Ana Ivanovic and Anna Chakvetadze, Sania will lead our next generation of players. Sania has had a great 2007 and with her superb all-court game, we are sure she will be a force to reckon with on the tour.”
Already the 2nd highest ranked tennis player from Asia, Sania’s next Impossible feat is to break into the top 20 in the world.
With today’s announcement, Sania officially earns her stripes joining a long list of adidas tennis stars, such as the World Number One Justine Henin, Novak Djokovic, Ana Ivanovic, Fernando Gonzalez, Marcos Baghdatis, Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan as well as adidas ambassadors Andre Agassi, Steffi Graf, Stan Smith and Ilie Nastase to wear state-of-the-art adidas tennis products.
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Brief Biography: Sania Mirza
Nationality: Indian
Date of Birth: November 15, 1986
Residence: Hyderabad, India
Height: 5'7 1/2" (1.53m)
Plays: Right-handed; two handed backhand
Coach: Imran Mirza
Pro since: January 1, 2005
Career Highlights:
• WTA Newcomer of the year in 2005
• First Indian to win a WTA Title – the 2005 Hyderabad Open
• First Indian player to win a junior Grand Slam
• First Indian woman to enter the top 100 ranking
• First Indian woman to enter the top 50 ranking
• First Indian woman to be seeded in a Grand Slam
• First Indian to be ranked in the top-10 in the ITF Junior circuit
• Winner of 3 medals in the Doha Asian Games in December 2006
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