Team India’s World Cup performance inspires budding cricket players in city

Gurvinder Singh

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, July 21

Cricket enthusiasts in the city are excited as the women’s Indian cricket team is garnering accolades for their performance in the World Cup. Dreams of many cricket players from the city for playing national’s are all fired up.

Prabhdeep Kaur, a batswoman from Moga, who won gold at school nationals and is studying at Khalsa College for Women, said, “I watched Harmanpreet Kaur, who scored a quick 171 to beat Australia in the semifinals. I feel proud of Harmanpreet didi and want to emulate her.”

She said, “I am making all efforts to make it to the national side and win at the international level.”

Babaljeet Kaur, a BA-II student and an all-rounder, said, “I also want to prove that my coming from Ferozepur and joining Khalsa College for Women for my passion is worth it. I am working on batting, bowling and fielding.”

Priyanka Kumari said her favourite players in the game were Harmanpreet Kaur and the Indian team skipper, Mithali Raj. “Though I am all rounder, but I am passionate about medium pace bowling. I have a dream of performing at the highest level in the world,” she said.

Anuradha, one of the former national players and now physical education professor at DD Jain College, who is also selector for the district side, said “There is a good talent pool in the district. As of now, the there centres for practise of girls’ teams are Nankana Sahib Public School, Doraha School and Khalsa College for Women.”

Ashmin Kaur from Ryan International School, who is not yet part of the district team, goes to practise at Khalsa College for Women every evening. She said, “My idol is Mithali Raj, and I want to be part of the national team. I am working hard at my game.”

“In fact, we are trying to open a new centre at Shaheed Sukhdev Thapar Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Bharat Nagar. As it lies in the heart of the city, we hope that a lot more girls will join and be a part of the cricketing community in the district,” she said. “Punjab has produced good players. They get jobs even if they don’t play from the state. But, the state has good players, and many girls in the district have the talent to make it to the national side,” she added.

Dr Sukhpal Kaur, head of the Physical Education Department, Khalsa College for Women, said, “Players at the college are given all facilities, including coaching, equipment, hostel and free of cost education. A lot of effort is also being put in.”

Speaking about players, she said, “Sometimes deserving players tend to suffer because of politics in the game. But, we hope that these girls will make it to the national side soon,” she said.

Charanjit Singh, the cricket coach at Khalsa College for Women said, “More cricket tournaments for women should be organised at the district level. Besides, there is also a need to give a push to the game at the school-level.”

“The Ludhiana team has some promising players. Hopefully they will make it to the national side to bring laurels to the city,” said Vinod Chitkara, general secretary, Ludhiana Cricket Association. “City lacks enough cricket grounds, but still there are regular games and practise sessions,” he added.

Smashing performance

Moga girl Harmanpreet Kaur scored 171 off 115 balls while playing with Australia and helped India reach World Cup final. India will face hosts England in the final to be held at Lord’s on Sunday. Indian bowlers Goswami and Shikah Pandey bowled brilliant opening spells.