Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Sania Mirza collects Pak visa, next what Pak citizenship?

Sania Mirza flew into the capital on Tuesday on a brief visit to get her visa to Pakistan where a post-wedding reception is scheduled next month.






Accompanied by her mother, the 23-year-old Mirza, went to the Pakistan High Commission and completed the formalities.





"We have got the visa. We are happy. Now that we have got the visa, we will be travelling to Pakistan", her mother Nasima Mirza told reporters.





Sania herself declined to comment on the impending marriage. "I am not answering any questions", she told reporters.





Nasima said the family was very happy with Sania's decision. "We are very happy about her decision. We are all with her and Inshallah we wish all the best to her," she said.





Her mother refused to talk about Sania's previous engagement with childhood friend Sohrab Mirza. "I don't want to comment on what all happened in the past and we should all look ahead," she said.





After Pakistani news channel Geo TV broke the news, the Mirza household confirmed the development late in the night through a statement.





A statement by Sania's father Imran Mirza said Sania and Malik will be based in Dubai, where the cricketer is a resident.





"This is a unique case where the husband and wife will represent their respective countries in sport," Imran said in the statement.





"My wedding Inshallah is going to be the biggest day of my life. I have been in the constant glare for too long and would appreciate privacy at this very personal moment in my life," Sania was quoted as having said in a statement.





While the marriage is likely to be held on April 11 or 12 in Hyderabad, the 'Walima' or reception is expected to be held in Lahore on April 16 or 17.

Shaoib Malik's family applies for visas to India

Six members of Shoaib Malik's family have applied for visas to travel to India for the Pakistani cricketer's much-anticipated wedding with tennis star Sania Mirza. "Six members of the Malik family have applied for visas but Shoaib himself hasn't submitted his application so far. But he is expected to do it soon," official sources said. The applications were submitted by Shoaib's uncle Zafar Malik. Sources also confirmed that Shoaib's mother was granted visa to travel to India last month. It is speculated that Shoaib's mother made the marriage proposal to the Mirza family during the trip. Shoaib and Sania are set to marry next month and shift to Dubai after tying the knot. The two met in Australia in January.

Sania & Shoaib: when did it all start?

It's an Indo-Pak love match that has created ripples on both sides of the border but no one seems to have a clue about just when and where did love blossom between Indian tennis queen Sania Mirza and dashing Pakistan cricketer Shoaib Malik.




A day after surprising almost everyone, except family, by announcing that they will tie the knot next month, speculation continues as to where exactly the romance began.



Sources say the two first met in Australia in January where Sania had just crashed out of the Australian Open and Pakistan had suffered yet another embarrassing defeat at the hands of Ricky Ponting's men.



Not a trip to remember professionally but personally it was to be a life-changing one at least for Sania, who broke off her engagement with childhood friend Sohrab Mirza at the end of that month, citing incompatibility.

Sania to get Pakistan visa today

Sania Mirza and her family will be leaving for Pakistan shortly to meet former cricket captain Shoib Malik and his family.




Mirza is to marry Shoaib Malik and a formal wedding reception has been scheduled within a month.



According to diplomatic sources, Sania, her parents and sister have applied for a visa at Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi and are expected to get visas by this evening.



After the marriage, the couple will be based in Dubai, where Shoaib is a resident. Sania will continue to play tennis once she recovers fully from the wrist injury that has marred her career in the recent past.



Yestarday, Sania told mediapersons that her marriage will be the biggest day of her life.

Sohrab Mirza's father wishes Sania on her engagement

Adil Mirza, father of Sania Mirza's ex-fiance, today wished good luck to the ace tennis player following her engagement to Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik.




"I spoke to Imran (Sania's father) and congratulated him.



It is a happy thing. I wish best of luck for them," Adil Mirza told reporters here.



He said Sania's engagement to Shoaib Malik will not affect the ties between the two families.



"No way. It is an old relationship," he said.



Adil said Sohrab Mirza was aware of the development and he would wish Sania on her engagement.



"In fact, he will wish her," Adil Mirza said.



Sania got engaged to Sohrab, her childhood friend, last year but it broke down due to incompatibility between the two.

Sania's engagement baffles common sense

The decision of Indian tennis star Sania Mirza to tie the knot with Shoaib Malik has baffled people in her home town and triggered a debate on her move in view of the controversy involving the Pakistani cricketer.




The people, especially youngsters, were heard discussing the possible impact of the wedding on India-Pakistan relations, on her tennis career and whether Sania would remain an Indian citizen or become a Pakistani.



There is also speculation that the 23-year-old would stop playing tennis after the 2012 Olympics.



Coming a couple of months after she called off her engagement to childhood friend Sohrab Mirza citing 'incompatibility', the news of her proposed marriage with former Pakistani captain has surprised her fans and critics alike.





Even close family friends of Sania had no information about the alliance till her family Monday night confirmed a report by Pakistani television channel Geo News.



Some of her fans believe that she has taken a risk by choosing a Pakistani as her life partner given the strained relations between the two neighbours.



Sania Mirza is perhaps the first Indian celebrity to marry a Pakistani who is also a sports star in his country. The news of the marriage has attracted intense attention here.



'Sania and Shoaib will make a handsome couple. I wish her all the best,' said S. Rashmi, a student.



The opinion was divided on whether the alliance would help strengthen people-to-people ties. 'Marriage of the two celebrities would make no difference to Indo-Pak relations as they would have no influence on the powers that decide the foreign policies,' said M.A. Amir, a software professional.



Though Sania's family in their statement said she would settle down in Dubai after the marriage and would continue to represent India in coming events, her relatives were tight-lipped on whether she would remain an Indian or accept Pakistani citizenship after a few years. 'I don't think she will ever accept Pakistani citizenship given the strained relations between the two countries,' feels Fauzan Hashmi, a student.



Sania's critics feel she has committed a 'double fault' by breaking off the engagement with her childhood friend and then choosing a Pakistani, who allegedly cheated a girl from her own city after marrying her.

Is Sania Mirza marrying Shoaib Malik? fake news or true?

To be or not to be...There has been lot of hue & cry over Sania Mirza's Marriage.


The latest item to hit the charts is about Shoaib Mailk and Sania Mirza's Engagement.

Some Pakistani News channel (Geo TV) Started all this news.

The story says that The engagement will happen on April 16th. According to the channel, Shoaib's mother met Sania's parents in India and accepted her as future daughter-in-law.



The 'Walima' or reception is expected to be held in Lahore on April 16 or 17, according to the channel, which quoted sources as saying that Sania and Shoaib fell in love some six-and-half months ago and it could be the reason for the breaking up of Sania's engagement with childhood friend Sohrab Mirza.



"I desire to get married soon. You will soon get some good news but it depends on my family. I fully expect to get married this year," Shoaib had said in a recent interaction with the media here.



Asked if it would be an arranged marriage, he said, "No can say what will happen, but it will take place with the concurrence of my family."



Some Indian News channel Revealed that all this news is fake.

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Sania, Shoaib prepare for April wedding

New Delhi/Hyderabad, March 30 (IANS) Indian tennis star Sania Mirza and her family secured Pakistani visas Tuesday ahead of her April wedding with former Pakistan cricket captain Shoaib Malik.




Sania's mother Naseema Mirza said the family was set to travel to Lahore, where the marriage is expected to take place early next month. A reception has been planned in India's Hyderabad city April 15.



As Sania flew back to her home in Hyderabad from New Delhi Tuesday afternoon, Malik told journalists in Lahore that the wedding date would be decided by the two families.



'Insha Allah, we are getting married soon,' Malik said. 'Our parents will decide the date. We (Sania and I) are very happy. Our families are also very happy.'



Asked when they will marry, he said: 'It is happening sometime next month.'



In New Delhi, mother Naseema Mirza said: 'We have got the Pakistani visas. Naturally, we will be going to Pakistan. We are all very happy for Sania.'



An official at the Pakistan high commission confirmed that visa applications of 23-year-old Sania, her younger sister and their parents had been processed.



Shoaib's family has also applied for Indian visas, Pakistani media reported.



The couple is expected to live in Dubai after tying the knot, according to their families.



Sania is perhaps the first Indian sporting celebrity to marry a Pakistani, who is also a sports star in his country.



Her surpre decision came two months after she called off her engagement to childhood friend Sohrab Mirza, citing incompatibility. Sohrab Mirza is the son of a Hyderabad-based businessman.



Sania was reportedly seeing Malik for the last few weeks. Sources close to Sohrab's family believe this could be the reason she called off the engagement.



Interestingly, Malik was also engaged to a girl from Hyderabad some years ago but later called it off. The family of that girl had even claimed that he had married her but the Pakistani denied this.



Malik said in January 2008 that his marriage plans with Ayesha Siddiqui ended because both families could not reach an understanding over certain issues.



However, the girl's family claimed that they entered the wedlock through 'nikah' over telephone in 2002. Ayesha's father M.A. Siddiqui had threatened to sue Malik for cheating and asked him to give a divorce.



Malik had reportedly met Ayesha in Dubai. The Pakistani cricket team was given a grand reception by Ayesha's parents at their Hyderabad house when the team toured India in 2005.

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Sania Mirza moved up

In the WTA Tour rankings Sania Mirza moved up three spots to no.58 in the world courtesy of her semi-final run at the HP Japan Women's Open in Osaka last week. Sania also moved up a few spots to no. 36 in the doubles ranking.

Sania Mirza's moment of loss


Sania Mirza of India reacts after missing a shot against Francesca Schiavone of Italy during their semi-final match at the Japan Women's Open Tennis in Osaka,western Japan, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2009. Schiavone won 6-2,6-1
Posted by Picasa

Sania Mirza in action


Sania Mirza returns to Francesca Schiavone of Italy during their semi-final match at the Japan Women's Open Tennis in Osaka, western Japan, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2009. Schiavone won 6-2, 6-1.
Posted by Picasa

Sayonara Japan - Sania mirza

Sania Mirza's run at the WTA Japan Open ended with a crushing 2-6, 1-6 mauling in the semi-final against world number 26 and fourth seed Francesca Schiavone in Osaka, on Saturday.




Sania's defeat meant that the Indian has now lost all three encounters against her Italian friend.



It was for the third time in the season that Sania had made it to the singles semi-final of an WTA event.



The Indian earned 130 ranking points and US $10,200 as prize money for her brilliant effort through the week in the US $220,000 hard court event.



Sania could not play the way she did against Peer and Bartoli, who had retired mid-way due to a shoulder injury, and lost her semi-final within an hour.



Sania saved a breakpoint in the first set but the Italian still broke her twice to race away with the lead.



The second set was again a lop-sided affair with Schiavone breaking Sania twice as she quickly wrapped up the one-sided match.

Francesca Schiavone of Italy celebrates her win


Francesca Schiavone of Italy celebrates her 6-2, 6-1 win over Sania Mirza of India during their semi-final match at the Japan Women's Open Tennis in Osaka, western Japan, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2009. Schiavone will face Samantha Stosur of Australia in Sunday's final match
Posted by Picasa

Sania Mirza reacts after missing a shot


Sania Mirza reacts after missing a shot against Francesca Schiavone of Italy during their semi-final match at the Japan Women's Open Tennis in Osaka,western Japan, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2009.Schiavone won 6-2,6-1
Posted by Picasa

Marion Bartoli of France returns to Sania Mirza


Marion Bartoli of France returns to Sania Mirza of India during the quarterfinal match at the Japan Women's Open Tennis in Osaka, western Japan, Friday, Oct. 16, 2009. Bartoli retired from the match in the second set due to injury.
Posted by Picasa

Sania Mirza of India returns a shot against Marion Bartol


Sania Mirza of India returns a shot against Marion Bartoli of France during their quarter-final match at the Japan Women's Open Tennis in Osaka, western Japan, Friday, Oct. 16, 2009. Bartoli retired from the match in the second set due to injury.
Posted by Picasa

Sania Mirza of India reacts during her quarter final match against Marion


Sania Mirza of India reacts during her quarter final match against Marion Bartoli of France at the Japan Women's Open Tennis in Osaka, western Japan, Friday, Oct. 16, 2009. Bartoli retired from the match in the second set due to injury
Posted by Picasa

Sania gets a hug


Marion Bartoli of France hugs with Sania Mirza, left, of India after their quarter-final match at the Japan Women's Open Tennis in Osaka, western Japan, Friday, Oct. 16, 2009. Bartoli retired from the match in the second set due to her injury.
Posted by Picasa

Marion Bartoli of France


Marion Bartoli of France,Bartoli retired from the match in the second set due to injury.
Posted by Picasa

Marion Bartoli of France holds her right arm

Marion Bartoli of France holds her right arm during her quarter final match against Sania Mirza of India at the Japan Women's Open Tennis in Osaka, western Japan, Friday, Oct. 16, 2009. Bartoli retired from the match in the second set due to injury.
Posted by Picasa

Friday, December 11, 2009

Sania Mirza in Japan Open semifinals

Sania Mirza today advanced to the Japan Open semifinals after her second-seeded French opponent Marion Bartoli retired midway through the quarterfinal due to a shoulder injury with the Indian leading 6-4 2-0 here.




With Bartoli hampered by a right shoulder injury, Sania controlled the proceedings in the hour-long match, although the Indian said she did not play all that well.



"You always like to win match point, so it was unfortunate but I felt I was playing well and was in control.



At the end of the day, a win is a win. The big thing for me is that I was outplaying a top 15 player, who was in good form," Sania said.



Sania will next play fourth seed Francesca Schiavone, who didn't even need to take the court as her seventh seeded rival Melinda Czink withdrew due to a right foot injury.

Sania Mirza and Vania King suffers shock exit

Second seed Sania Mirza and Vania King suffered a shock straight-set defeat at the hands of unseeded French pair of Julie Coin and Mathilde to crash out of the doubles event of the Japan Open in Osaka on Thursday.




The Indo-American pair lost lost 4-6, 2-6 in the quarter-final of the USD 220,000 WTA hard court event after battling for one hour and seven minutes.



Sania got 70 ranking points for making the last-eight pair stage and will share USD 1650 prize money with Vania.



To survive in the event, Sania will have to beat World number 13 and second seed Marion Bartoli of France in the singles competition on Friday.



Sania and Vania had plenty of chances against their rivals in the both the sets but could not cash in on.



They dropped serve twice in the first set and missed equal number of chances on their opponents' serve.



They saved five breakpoints and were successful in breaking the French pair once but that was not enough.



The second set too saw the second seeds missing many a chances as they squandered three breakpoints and dropped their own serve thrice.

Sania Mirza beats Viktoriya Kutuzova



Sania Mirza became the first player to reach the quarter-finals of the Japan Open Wednesday, beating Viktoriya Kutuzova of Ukraine in straight sets.
Posted by Picasa

Sania Mirza sets date with Bartoli

Sania Mirza sailed into the Japan Open quarter finals after notching up a straight-set win over Ukraine’s Viktoriya Kutuzova here on Wednesday.




Sania defeated Kutuzova 6-4, 6-3 in one hour and 23 minutes to set up a tough quarter final against second-seeded Frenchwoman Marion Bartoli.



Both Sania and Viktoriya served badly in the opening set, committing five double faults each.



But Sania managed to convert a crucial break point to go 1-0 up.



The Indian was more in control in the second set and she cut back on her service errors, saving three of the four break points she faced.



Viktoriya, however, continued to serve poorly and was broken thrice by the Indian, who was also helped by the three double faults the Ukrainian committed.



The Indian goes into the match against world No. 12 Bartoli with a 1-0 head-to-head record as the Hyderabadi had beaten her in the 2005 US Open.

Sania Mirza vs Shahar Peer


http://saniamirzaindiaspride.blogspot.com

Sania Mirza sent out a strong signal of intent when she eliminated fifth seed Shahar Peer of Israel in the first round of the Japan Open women's tennis tournament on Monday.
Posted by Picasa

Sania back in action with a win

Sania Mirza's camaraderie with frequent doubles partner Shahar Peer did not come in her way to overcoming the fifth seeded Israeli in three sets to reach the second round of the Japan Open tennis tournament here today.




With two players fully aware of each other's game, it was an intense one hour 52 minute tug-of-war, at the end of which Sania finished on the right side with a hard-earned 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 win.



The Indian will now face Viktoriya Kutuzova of Ukraine, who had won the first set 6-2 before her opponent Maria Kirilenko of Russia retired.



Sania broke her opponents twice but was broken herself thrice as the Indian lost the first set.



In the second set, however, Sania saved all three break points to draw parity and maintained her superiority in the decider to emerge winner.

Sania rise in singles rankings

In the WTA list, Sania Mirza rose by four rungs to 61 in singles but her doubles ranking was intact at 38.