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Falling in love at first sight in not new, but ever heard of falling in love in the third one? Well, that’s the case as far as the newly married cross-border sports couple Sania Mirza and Shoaib Malik are concerned. Appearing before the media for the first time since their controversial, yet news headline dominating wedding, Indian tennis sensation Sania Mirza and Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik disclosed that their love for each other was of a different kind. A visibly happy and vibrant Sania told ‘anxious’ media persons she had met Malik for the first time in 2004, but the meeting lasted for only two minutes at a restaurant in Hobart. 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.’ But when did they decide to take the marital vows? It was after Mirza’s engagement with childhood friend Sohrab Mirza crashed, said the giggling tennis ace, and also made it clear that Shoaib did not propose to her. “It was decided from both sides,” Sania 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 hubby to hit a century. While Sania did much of the talking, Shoaib, though unwanting, 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.

For Sania-Shoaib, it was love at ‘third’ sight, not ‘first’ or ‘second’!