Tennis star’s wish to play for the country even after marriage to Pak cricketer Shoaib Malik, has been opposed. DNA seeks Mumbai’s stand on this issue.
Expert view
She should focus on improving ranking
We have been observing that the issue of Sania’s marriage has really created a lot of curiosity among the youth. They keep on discussing about such happenings and are venting their opinion. As we know social media is all about youth, if you want to find out what they are thinking one can simply follow blogs. Youngsters essentially respect and like Sania Mirza as a tennis player and 85% bloggers on mouthshut.com feel that Sania Mirza should be left alone to decide about her marriage and tennis career. Some have expressed the view that marriage is a personal decision and one shouldn’t read too much between the lines. Sania Mirza should continue representing India as she has been saying, so and I wonder why there is any debate on this. But yes, Sania should concentrate on her game and her rankings which have been falling rapidly.
—Faisal Farooqui, founder & CEO, MouthShut.com
Wrong for Sena to judge issue
If Sania’s groom was from any other country, we wouldn’t have made so much noise about it. Just because her groom is from Pakistan some controversy has been unnecessarily created. Who is the Shiv Sena to decide what nationality she should adopt after marriage? Are there any rules for the same? It’s her choice to do whatever she wants. To create roadblocks in Sania’s marriage reeks of chauvinism.
—Varsha Arolla, media person
Row blown out of proportion
In the past, there have been marriages between individuals from both neighbouring countries. This has been blown out of proportion as both of them represent different sports. It’s a mature decision taken by two individuals to stay in a different country altogether and stay clear of controversies. Marriage could improve cultural ties between countries, so take the union positively.—Hemant Parab, office assistant
Wild speculation is not right
I believe that she will play for India, even if she gets married to a Pakistani. She is mature and she knows how to fight for her rights. In the past, she stayed firm, when controversy erupted on her dress. That her ties with India will diminish is pure speculation. If any girl marries a foreign national and settles abroad, she is still attached to her country.
—Shrutika Gupta, asst campaign manager
Strengthen ties with Pakistan
Marriage is an individual’s choice. Where a girl chooses to stay post-marriage, is something she must decide after great deliberation. I don’t think that the row has anything to do with chauvinism or any male bias. The whole issue is being blown out of proportion, just because she is a celebrity. The media has got fodder to create hullabaloo. If the alliance clicks, can be used to strengthen ties with Pakistan.
—Harshal Desai, quality manager
Sania has made us proud
Sania Mirza is an Indian citizen and has been representing our nation ever since. Until she decides to change her citizenship she is entitled to represent India. Till Sania does not apply for Pakistani citizenship, she has every right to represent her India. We must not forget that she has made us proud more than once. Rather than chauvinism it’s a case of misplaced sense of nationalism.—Ritu Devnani, PR executive
Ruckus due to Pakistani links
Marriage is an individual decision. Such questions are only popping up because she is getting married to a Pakistani national. Firstly we must understand that she has a right to take a decision regarding her career. If there is no legal problem in representing India, then she can go ahead. No one has any right to stop her from playing tennis for India, if she wants to.
—Rahul Sinha, relationship manager
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