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Sania happy with wedding, will play for India

Sania Mirza confirmed the news of her marriage to Shoaib Malik & said it was no political statement.

Zeenews Bureau
New Delhi/Karachi: All set to marry former Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik, India`s tennis queen Sania Mirza on Tuesday broke her silence and confirmed the news of her marriage to the frenzy of media gathering which was stationed outside her house for a reaction.

Flying back to Hyderabad after a lightning visit to Delhi where she secured visa from Pakistan High Commission for going to Lahore for a reception, a visibly happy Sania was all smiles and accompanied her father Imran Mirza while addressing the scribes present outside her house. “I and my family are very happy to announce that I am getting married to Shoaib Malik. Inshaallah the nikah (marriage) will take place on 11th of April in Hyderabad and the walima (reception ) is on 15th in Pakistan,” Sania told reporters.

The 23-year-old said she would be lying if she did not expect the development to be a shock but both of them and their families were happy about the marriage. She said she had received messages of best wishes from several people both in India and Pakistan.

Sania Mirza however, refrained herself from adding anything on the furor which the news of her marriage has caused. “We are getting married. We are not also making any political statement or anything on (Indo-Pak) relations. It`s a simple matter. We are getting married. We are very, very happy and our families are very happy,” she said.

On the question about since when was she dating Shoaib, Sania said the matter was personal. “I`m not going to answer nor will Shoaib be comfortable answering personal questions,” she said.

She further informed that after marriage, she would settle in Dubai. “Shoaib is a resident if Dubai which I will also become. I will continue to have the passport of India, though."

Sania and her father distributed sweet among the media persons during the interaction and when asked about opposition from VHP and other right-wing groups on her marrying a Pakistani, the tennis player said, "We are happy. You should not speak such things with mithai in your hands." Saying that the marriage would not in any way affect their career, Sania said, "I will continue to play tennis after wedding and he will also continue to play for his country. I am going to keep playing. Everything will be the same except that we are getting married." Sania said though she will miss her friends & family, since Dubai has ‘so many Pakistanis and Indians living there, I would feel better.’

Asked who she would support in case of an India-Pakistan cricket match, she said, "I will obviously support India but I will also support my husband."

To a question, she said she would continue to hold Indian passport and was looking to play for India in the 2012 Olympics. In Pakistan, Shoaib Malik interacted with the media where he said both the families were happy with the marriage. "Inshallah, we are getting married soon and our families are very happy. We both are also happy," he said. Six members of Shoaib`s family have reportedly applied for visas to travel to India for the wedding in Hyderabad. Meanwhile, Adil Mirza, father of Sania`s ex-fiance Sohrab, wished good luck to the ace tennis player. "I spoke to Imran (Sania`s father) and congratulated him. It is a happy thing. I wish best of luck to them," he said. He said Sania`s engagement to Shoaib will not affect the ties between the two families. "No way. It is an old relationship," he said. -PTI inputs