Sania faces Israeli Wimbledon doubles storm

India's Sania Mirza is braced for another political and religious storm after agreeing to renew her doubles partnership with Israel's Shahar Peer at Wimbledon. Mirza, a Muslim, and Peer are close friends on the tour and played together at the 2005 Japan Open where they reached the semi-finals.
However, under pressure from militants furious over a Muslim and Jew playing together, the partnership broke up. "We both didn't have partners and so close to the tournament I think we were very lucky to find each other because it's very hard to get good partners," said 20-year-old Mirza.
"I think we complement each other. She plays on the backhand side, I play the forehand side.
"We've known each other forever and we've grown up together so I think we have a great chance. It's a great opportunity for us to play at a big event." Peer said she was delighted to be back playing with Indian number one Mirza.
"I always enjoyed playing with Sania," said Peer. "But she asked if we could stop playing together last year because of pressures. "I was pleasantly surprised when she suggested playing together at the French Open last month, but I had already promised to partner Dinara Safina. I'm really pleased to be with her again."
World number 44 Mirza is no stranger to controversy. A fatwah was once issued against her by extremists angry over the short skirts she wears on court.
Mirza and Peer have been seeded 16 at Wimbledon and will take on Lisa Osterloh and Sofia Andersson in the first round. The teaming of Muslim and Jewish players has caused a Wimbledon row in the past.
In 2002, Pakistan's Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi was threatened with a suspension by his country's tennis federation when he played in the men's doubles here with Israel's Amir Hadad.
On Thursday, Qureshi said that despite the furore, he would still not hesitate to team up with a Jewish player, or an Indian player - and was prepared to take a stand on principle.
"Playing with Hadad in 2002, I never thought it was going to become such a big deal," said Qureshi after losing his second round singles in straight sets to Marat Safin. "There were some extremists back home and some sports authorities started talking negative. I still stand with the point that I really believe you shouldn't mix politics, religion, or colour into sports.
"If I take a stand against a Jewish player, next thing I know all the Christians or Jews or Indians take a stand against me and then I can't play the sport. If I feel like I can do well with an Indian or a Jew again, I would definitely play with them."