New Delhi: In a shocking development, ace Indian tennis star Sania Mirza was not present as the chief guest of Madhya Pradesh government’s annual sports awards, due to several unacceptable demands of hers which was refused by the state government.
According to a report in The Indian Express, after she had accepted the invitation, her personal assistant made demands of a make-up kit worth Rs 75,000 and a chartered plane.
ALSO READ: Nobody has the right to ask what happens in my bedroom, says Sania Mirza
The report added that if the sports department is to be believed, the demands made on Sania’s behalf included the make-up kit, a chartered plane to ferry her to Bhopal and back and five business class tickets for her assistants.
ALSO READ: Leander-Sania have a very good chance of winning medal at Rio Olympics: Martina Navratilova
“We pay for economy class air ticket, accommodation in a star hotel and local transport,’’ a sports department official told the newspaper.
ALSO READ: Not thinking about Olympics right now: Sania Mirza
The ceremony had to be pushed back from Saturday to Tuesday, and badminton coach Pullela Gopichand was instead asked to be chief guest.
It’s unclear how much money she demanded as fees.
Sania is yet to react to the controversy.
