Sania Mirza on the cover of HT Brunch. Sania Mirza on the cover of HT Brunch. Sania Mirza had shared a video last week on her Instagram account where she played tennis with sister Anam. It looked difficult to concur that ace Indian tennis player was 28 weeks pregnant and her delivery is due in October. On Sunday, she adorned the cover of Hindustan Times Brunch and discussed a wide range of topics – tennis, questions over nationalism due to the fact that she’s married to Pakistan cricketer Shoaib Malik and obviously, the baby. Many had questioned her love for the country when she married Shoaib with social media still rife with trolls bringing up Pakistan in her posts. She clarified on her relationship and that of the two countries. “A lot of people have this notion that Shoaib and I got married to unite the two countries. That is not true. Whenever I have been to Pakistan – and I go once every year to meet my in laws – the love that I get there is immense. The whole country calls me ‘bhabhi’, and they give me so much respect. I also know that that love is not necessarily for me, it is for my husband who has been cricket captain and what he means to everyone there. The respect they have for him transcends to the respect for me… Just like when Shoaib comes here, and he gets the love and respect of our countrymen,” she said in the interview. “Tags are a part of being a public figure. I play for my country, my family, for myself, and so does my husband. We are aware of the responsibilities we carry, but we do not take these tags seriously. They may make for a good headline, but don’t mean anything to us at home!” she went on to add. Mirza announced her pregnancy and decision to start a family came at a time when she was out of action with a knee injury. She underwent surgery after playing last at the China Open in October. “When we got married we were both clear that our careers wouldn’t be compromised,” says Sania. “He has been more ready for this than me for the last few years, to be honest. He’s also a few years older than me, so that’s understandable. But he never told me, ‘Maybe we should… this is the time…’ I really respect that in a man. It is often taken for granted that as a woman you will put your life on hold and do what’s expected. I never felt that pressure. I’ve always wanted to have a child and have a family, I just didn’t know when…” “I found out early that I was pregnant, and quite by chance. I remember it was the 25th of February, and the only thing that concerned me immediately was that I had been training like a dog. They say you must be most careful in your first trimester, and I was running so much, it got me a bit worried. Once I knew, I took it easy. I didn’t have as much morning sickness as I’d expected, just a few mood swings. And I kept myself active throughout,” she elaborated on early few weeks. Mirza and her love for tennis, while pregnant, can be compared to new mother Serena Williams. Serena, like Sania, was active when she found out about the pregnancy. “I don’t think she played tennis till her eighth month. But she did exercise, which every woman can do provided you’ve been doing it before you got pregnant. You mustn’t think a pregnancy is an excuse to put your feet up and do nothing, unless there is a complication. I’ve been doing yoga four times a week through my second trimester, though it did take a bit of convincing my mother. (‘How can you exercise,’ she was worried!) But I’m still walking four to five kms daily, though I am beginning to tire a bit faster. I do miss tennis… I have a court at home, but my mother will kill me if I try to sneak in a game!” said Mirza. With allegiance in both sports from parents for the baby-to-come, Sania was asked if the baby will take the cricket bat or tennis racquet. Sania had a different reply up her sleeve, “Honestly this comes up very late in a child’s life. I’d prefer my child being a doctor (laugh),” she said.<doc-sep>Sania Mirza reacts to Shoaib Malik’s India’s I-Day tweet This convo is the best. The occasion of the 72nd Independence Day is being celebrated all over India on Wednesday. Even the cricketing fraternity is showering their love on social media by wishing their fans and followers. But there was a special wish from Shoaib Malik who won the hearts by wishing all the Indians on this auspicious occasion. However, he had also specially mentioned his wife Sania Mirza in the tweet which prompted her to respond and the conversation is going viral. The adorable couple got married in April 2010 amidst a lot of controversies due to the tensed relations between both the countries. Before the marriage though Sania had clarified that she will always be an Indian and will continue to play for her country at the highest level. She also brought laurels to India in the Grandslam Doubles event and won a few titles sensationally. Meanwhile, some people still question her nationality and an attempt to trigger the agenda on Tuesday when Pakistan was celebrating their Independence Day was made. However, the Tennis star came up with a stunning response to the fan on social media and shut all the debate yet again. Lovely convo Shoaib Malik is currently not with his wife Sania who is expecting a child in October this year. He is busy playing in the ongoing Caribbean Premier League (CPL) and is leading Guyana Amazon Warriors (GAW) who have won 2 out of the three matches so far in the tournament. He took to his official Twitter account and wished the Indians on the special occasion. He didn’t forget to mention his wife which left their fans gushing over the couple. “Wishing Indians all over the globe (specially the one at home) a very #HappyIndepenceDayIndia,” he tweeted. Sania Mirza also loved that her cricketer husband wished her all the way from the Caribbean island and responded to his message which is going viral currently. Here’s the thread of the convo: Wishing Indians all over the globe (specially the one at home) a very #HappyIndepenceDayIndia 🤗 — Shoaib Malik (@realshoaibmalik) August 15, 2018 [interaction id=”5b72ef6aafc9e43d811cb790″] Keep following CricTracker for more news and updates.<doc-sep>
India's tennis star Sania Mirza took her sweet time to call out a troll who wished her on Pakistan's Independence Day. But it was her husband and cricketer Shoaib Malik's wish on August 15 is making some noise on social media on India's 72nd Independence Day. The Pakistani batsman took to the micro-blogging site to wish all Indians a Happy Independence Day. Malik wrote on Twitter, "Wishing Indians all over the globe (especially the one at home) a very #HappyIndepenceDayIndia." Wishing Indians all over the globe (specially the one at home) a very #HappyIndepenceDayIndia August 15, 2018 Sania Mirza subtweeted Malik's post with a sweet caption and emoji. The tweet found many admirers in his fanbase. Setting example for all men #HusbandGoals — Muzammil Hassan (@muzzammil78) August 15, 2018 Returning the favour to your wife Good husband — Barca URDU (@URDUbarca) August 15, 2018 @MirzaSania you both took a great initiative to wish your neighbours a happy independence day and bring them closer to one another. This will help to create peace and harmony between two nations. Well done bhai and bhabhi. Happy #IndependenceDayIndia — Arslan Javaid (@Being__Arslan) August 15, 2018 Sania also wished her fellow countrymen. She posted two images in which the very pregnant athlete is wearing white kurta paired with tri-colour dupatta and admiring our national flag. She captioned the tweet, "With freedom in the mind, faith in the words, pride in our souls. Let’s salute the nation Happy Independence Day With freedom in the mind, faith in the words, pride in our souls. Let’s salute the nationHappy Independence Day pic.twitter.com/QFmcIJI4KZ — Sania Mirza (@MirzaSania) August 15, 2018 In the past, she has clarified her thoughts on their relationship and that of the two countries recently. “A lot of people have this notion that Shoaib and I got married to unite the two countries. That is not true. Whenever I have been to Pakistan – and I go once every year to meet my in-laws – the love that I get there is immense... Just like when Shoaib comes here, and he gets the love and respect of our countrymen,” she said in the interview to a leading English daily.