Sania Mirza to marry Pak cricketer Shoaib Malik in mid-April

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She's India's tennis ace. He's a high-profile Pakistani cricketer. And they're all set to get married in Hyderabad early next month.

Sania Mirza and Shoaib Malik are planning a small, private ceremony in Hyderabad, but their match will inevitably generate huge interest in their respective countries.

The couple will be based in Dubai, though Sania will continue to play tennis and represent India, while Shoaib will turn out for Pakistan. The alliance has been blessed by both families.

"This is the biggest day of my life. I have been in the media glare for too long, and would appreciate a little privacy at this very personal moment," Sania, 23, told TOI.

Shoaib, 28, has pledged Sania his support: "I fully understand what it takes to be an international sportsperson. I'll support Sania in her career as long as she wishes to play."

"Representing India at the 2012 Olympics is very important for her, and I will be the proudest husband if she can win a medal for her country," he said.

3D and Satellite TV - The Next Generation of Sports Entertainment

Watching sports on television has been a national past time since the invention of the first sports cast. Originally starting with baseball and football, all sports eventually made it to the "tube" format and are now mass marketed to millions on a daily basis. Almost every day it is possible to check out a basketball game or hockey game.

Actually, with such channels as ESPN classic on cable and satellite TV, it is even possible to watch old games from thirty years ago. So, just in case you happened to miss Super Bowl XXXII and the Denver Broncos underdog triumph against the Green Bay Packers in 1998, you can relive the action as if it happened yesterday.

Speaking of football, it is almost as if television is now completely catered towards it. Any true diehard football lover has season tickets as well as a subscription to NFL Sunday Ticket, so they can watch all the away games as well as monitor and keep up with rival victories and defeats. It is just the normal thing to have.

And with the recent high definition craze, every type of game, match or event is now taking up the format, broadcasting in crystal clear clarity. Viewers can now watch games as if they were sitting on the sidelines, being able to see the expression of pride on the pitcher's face as he strikes the batter out or of overwhelming joy as the game winning shot makes it in right before the buzzer concludes the basketball game. Even the X-Games and extreme sporting events have transitioned to the new broadcast medium. People watching Shaun White take a half-pipe run can actually see the light reflecting off of the snow at night.

Now, with the recent 3D craze overtaking Hollywood, television companies are getting things in order to offer 3D programming and channels sooner than you think. Companies are already planning on launching a 3D specific satellite in March, according to reports, and such channels as Discovery and ESPN are preparing to launch programming during the upcoming summer, primarily focusing on the most famous sporting event in the world: The 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Reports indicate that the first game to broadcast in 3D format will be the South Africa versus Mexico game.

All this talk about the new 3D phenomenon means taking television sports viewing to the next step, something never thought possible. HD brought people closer to the action, 3D will make it appear that the viewer is actually there. If there is a blizzard during a ski race, the snow could easily be flying right out of the screen, blinding the viewer in the same manner as the actual competitor. When a basketball player dives into the crowd in order to keep the ball in play, it may seem as if he is bursting out of the television. It will be absolutely insane.

Of course, the actual format will require new ways to film games and events as well as new technology and updates for televisions. If current trends have taught the television companies anything these days, it is that people like what they are seeing.

So, who knows? In the next few years all programming, whether athletic or not, could be broadcasted in 3D. Those special glasses will more than likely be prepackaged and sold with brand new remotes. That is unless television technology gets so advanced that people will not need them. The public can only wait and see.