BBC India fails to recognise Sania Mirza’s achievement, irks Union HRD Minister Smriti Irani
Mumbai: Indian tennis sensation Sania Mirza created history becoming the first woman from the country to win a women's doubles Grand Slam trophy as she lifted the Wimbledon title with Swiss partner Martina Hingis after a stunning come-from-behind triumph.
Soon after Sania and the Swiss Miss Martina won the Championship, BBC India made a faux pas by just mentioning that it was Hingis who had won while completely ignoring Mirza. Its tweet said, "Hingis wins Wimbledon doubles final".
(Photo: Screengrab)
The tweet irked Bharatiya Janata Party leader and Union HRD Minister Smriti Irani, who publicly raised an objection over the same. She replied to BBCIndia saying, "So does Sania Mirza."
Soon after Smriti's tweet, BBCIndia was forced to issue a clarification and pull out its post. It posted another tweet with the correction stating, "India's Sania Mirza wins women's Wimbledon doubles with Martina Hingis.
India's Sania Mirza wins women's Wimbledon doubles with Martina Hingis: http://t.co/QUg1GCfAwK (Correcting earlier tweet - apologies!)
— BBC India (@BBCIndia) July 12, 2015The incorrect tweet generated furore on social media with several posts alleging the news organisation of 'racism'. BBC later clarified the mistake and tweeted, "It was an automated tweet, which we corrected and apologised for (sic)."
Hingis and Mirza beat Russia's Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina 5-7 7-6 (7-4) 7-5 in a thrilling women's doubles final at the Wimbledon.
