New baby to have a sporting chance

New Delhi – Indian tennis star Sania Mirza has given birth to a baby boy, her Pakistani cricketer husband Shoaib Malik said yestersday, prompting a flood of congratulatory messages on social media.

“Excited to announce: It’s a boy, and my girl is doing great and keeping strong as usual #Alhumdulilah. Thank you for the wishes and Duas, we are humbled. #BabyMirzaMalik,” Malik tweeted.

Mirza and Malik enjoy a high profile owing to their successful sports careers and their unusual marriage straddling the border of nuclear rivals India and Pakistan.

“It’s a boyyyy !!!! ” Mirza’s younger sister Anam wrote on Instagram.

The 31-year-old, who became the first Indian to win a WTA tournament singles title in 2005, has said the baby’s surname would be Mirza-Malik. –