I wasnt marrying a Pakistani. I was marrying a person I liked and he was marrying a person. This was how Indian tennis ace Sania Marza responded in her first media interaction four days after she tied the knot with Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik(28) when asked about her cross-border marriage that hogged media limelight for days. It didnt matter if he(Shoaib) was from Timbuktu. He could have been from anywhere, Sania(23) said emphatically. I was marrying a person,not a Pakistani,people try to make it political but we were very clear that we were two individuals who were getting married just like normal people, she said. Everyone had an opinion,everyone wanted to have a say,but the most important thing is that now we are relieved as we are married, she said. Sania said now that they are married,she wants to forget all the hullabaloo surrounding her wedding and lead a happy life. Responding to a question,she made it clear she would continue supporting her homeland in future India-Pakistan encounter on the cricket field,but was quick to add that she would want her husband to hit a century. While Sania did much of the talking,Shoaib,though reluctantly,responded to some questions. Replying to a question,Shoaib clarified that Sania would play only for India and she would have the good wishes of Pakistan. When asked about the change in her life post-marriage,the tennis star said that shes clear about the fact that marriage is not going to change anything for her. I never thought I would get married so soon. Sania maintained that tennis continues to be her focus. My immediate goal is to play in Commonwealth games in India. I have played in Asian games before but this time its in India so itll be more special for me,I am more excited about it,Im also going to play in Wimbledon, she added. Asked whether she was hurt over the controversy generated after a local girl Ayesha Siddiqui charged that Shoaib had married her,Sania said It was lot of emotions. The hardest part for me was to go out in the media,a week before marriage and have to give clarifications for whatever good,bad or ugly,that is not what a bride wants to do a week before her marriage. Ther newly weds also described how and where they met,and the toll their controversial wedding had taken on them. A visibly happy and vibrant Sania said she spent three hours getting her mehendi applied. Shoaib said they met in 2004 for two minutes. Sania said she had met Shoaib for the first time in 2004,but the meeting lasted for only two minutes at a restaurant in Hobartin Australia. We were staying at the same hotel. I was on my way to the gym and we met there, Sania said. The very next day Shoaib along with former fast bowler Waqar Younis came to watch her match where she found the all-rounder Malik very simple and attractive. They said they met again in Dubai. It was actually love at third sight, Sania said A long courtship was not possible. Because we are well-known in our own and each others countries,so it would have been tough to keep under wraps. We are both from respectable families, he added. Asked whether she thought during the controversy that the marriage may not take place. No,never. I never thought we will not get married. At the end of the day we are human beings. It takes a lot out of you. Sharing his side of the story,Shoaib said,When I met Sania in Dubai almost five years back,my father told me to get married to her then."
