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Sania was selected in the TOPS during the 56th meeting of the Mission Olympic Cell.
The 34-year-old multiple Grand Slam winner had opted out of the scheme when she was selected last in 2017 because of an injury breakdown which had led to a lay-off.
“Yes, Sania has been selected in the recent TOPS list,” a Sports Authority of India source told PTI.
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Sania is currently ranked 157th in the world but as per WTA rules when a player takes a lay-off from the game longer than six months on account of injuries or pregnancy, they can apply for a “special ranking” (also sometimes known as a “protected ranking”).
The special ranking of a player is their world ranking after the last tournament they played and in Sania’s case, it was the China Open in October 2017. She was ranked world No. 9 at that point.
So, Sania currently has a special ranking of 9th and has already qualified for the Tokyo Olympics.
The special rankings were introduced by WTA because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Sania was inactive for two years due to pregnancy and only made her return to the court last year following the birth of her son at the season-opening Hobart International WTA event.
She partnered Ukrainian Nadiia Kichenok to win the women’s doubles title.