New Delhi, July 3 (ANI): Tennis players Sania Mirza and Sunitha Rao have been given a Wild card entry to compete at women’s doubles competition in the Beijing Olympics beginning on August 8.

Sania is the highest ranked female tennis player from India, with a career high ranking of 27 in singles and 18 in doubles. She was ranked 31 in the singles category and 21 in the doubles category in the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) rankings of April 7, 2008.

The US based Sunitha is second highest ranked Indian woman in the WTA charts and has represented the country in the Fed Cup.

A senior official at the All India Tennis Association said they have received the official confirmation from the International Tennis Federation (ITF).

Sania has already been given a direct entry into the singles competition.

The tennis event will be played from 10 to 17 August at the new Olympic tennis centre in Beijing.

Players from 21 nations would participate in the women’s doubles competition. (ANI)