Mohammad Kaif backs Naomi Osaka's stand on media boycott: High time we acknowledge mental health issue

French Open 2021: Naomi Osaka withdrew from the ongoing clay-court Grand Slam after the Grand Slam association penalised her for not taking part in the mandatory post-match press conference. Osaka cited mental health issues before pulling out of the major.

Former India batsman Mohammad Kaif has said it's important to acknowledge the issue of mental health in sports, backing tennis superstar Naomi Osaka's stand on boycotting media conferences at French Open. Kaif said players should be allowed to avoid media when they are not feeling weak. It's high time we acknowledge the issue of mental health in sports. More so in individual sports. In cricket, a coach or a senior player can be a back up option for a captain but not in tennis. Let's be sensitive, players in their weak moments should be allowed to avoid media. Naomi Osaka's decision to not take part in press conferences at French Open created a stir with the association of Grand Slam tournaments slapping a fine on the World No. 2 and warning her of expulsion from the tournament. Osaka did not attend the press conference after her first-round win on Sunday. She was fined USD 15,000 and warned of expulsion. In fact, Roland Garros deleted a tweet that was aimed at Osaka for missing the post-match press conference after her first-round win.