Mirzapur: Sania Mirza, daughter of TV mechanic from Uttar Pradesh’s Mirzapur, becomes India's first Muslim woman fighter pilot in the Indian Air Force.
Mirza, a resident of Jasovar village, is also the state’s first IAF pilot after cracking the qualifying National Defense Academy exam.
Sania Mirza, who will join NDA Khadakwasla in Pune on December 27, said citing her experience that Hindi medium students too can pull off success if they are determined, according to NDTV.
Sania's father Shahid Ali said his daughter was inspired by the country's first fighter pilot Avni Chaturvedi whom she considers as her role model.
Sania Mirza had her schooling at Pandit Chintamani Dubey Inter College in the village itself, before joining Guru Nanak Girls Inter College in the city.
A district topper in the 12th UP Board, she went to Centurion Defense Academy to achieve her goal of being a fighter pilot.
Her achievement suggests she had put immense hard work into it considering the fact that there were only two seats reserved for women in fighter pilot in the National Defence Academy 2022 exam.
She failed to win a seat in the first attempt but made it in the second.
However, Mirza gives the credit of her achievement to both her parents and the Centurion Defense Academy.
Sania's mother Tabassum Mirza said her daughter made the family and the entire village proud while fulfilling her dream.
The National Defense Academy 2022 examination sought to fill a total of 400 seats with19 for women and two seats for fighter pilots.