While India's newest wondergirl was busy winning laurels for the country, sceptics were ready to pull her down.

A fatwa was issued against Sania Mirza demanding she cover up. It was done by a senior cleric of the Sunni Ulema Board, a little-known group. It was said her dress on the tennis courts left nothing to the imagination and that she would be a corrupting influence to young Muslims.

The family chose to maintain a dignified silence but the media and prominent citizens picked up the issue, denigrating the fatwa.

They defended her attire, calling it in tune with international circuit.

Muslim personalities told us to ignore such fatwas as they are of no consequence.

Writing on the edit page of Hindustan Times, Farrukh Engineer, explained the nature of a fatwa saying it was just an opinion, not a ruling.