U-19 World Cup: Harjas Singh who steered Aussies to title win has Chandigarh connect
Deepankar Sharda
Chandigarh, February 12
Though the Indian U-19 team’s World Cup defeat against Australia disheartened many, there was a slight happiness in local boxing and athletics fraternity as the victorious team has a Chandigarh connection.
Harjas Singh, who scored 55 off 66 balls and remained the highest scorer for Australia in the final, has his family roots in Chandigarh. He was also the only batter from either side to pass 50-run mark.
The 19-year-old’s father, Inderjeet Singh known as Bittu in the local circuit, had played for Chandigarh and said to have trained under former Chandigarh coach Balkar Singh Virk (brother of international boxer Charanjeet Singh Virk, now DSP Chandigarh Police), while his mother Avinder Kaur was a long jumper and won many medals in various meets for Chandigarh. Inderjeet and Avinder studied at Government College of Arts, Sector 10.
His uncle Satinder Singh, who works as reader at Chandigarh Labour Court, watched the match with Harjas’ grandparents Balbir Singh and Prem Kumari at his Sector 44 based residence.
Harjas’ grandparents, who live in Australia, are visiting Inderjeet’s elder brother at Chandigarh. “They (grandparents) were very happy. My both children stay with Inderjeet in Australia, and our entire clan is proud of his hardwork,” said Satinder.
Harjas was born in Sydney in 2005 after his parents migrated to that country from Chandigarh in 2000. “Yes, our family (uncle) still stays in Chandigarh. I don’t remember his house number, but he stays in Sector 44. My father used to play boxing for Chandigarh and he played at state level, and mother was a long jumper for Punjab. We shifted to Australia in 2000,” Harnoor Kaur, elder sister of Harjas, told The Tribune from Sydney.
Interestingly, both Inderjeet and Avinder had no plans to make him a professional cricketer. However, Harjas, who was lean towards sports since childhood, developed his interest in cricket while playing with local boys on the porch of a Gurudwara near his locality.
“Harjas started playing with kids at a local Gurudwara, and thereafter he developed interest in cricket. He used to spend hours while playing against elder boys. He then went on to play for clubs, and later for the country. The family supported him throughout, and we are very proud of his achievement,” said Harnoor.
While Harjas played for Australia, his parents specially flew to Benoni in South Africa to watch their ward play for the country. After the final, the couple had a moment of their life, when Harjas came to them with the glittering gold around his neck, and took blessings from his parents by touching their feet.
Inderjeet, who works in a transport agency, had specially made a practice-patch on the backyard of their house for Harjas. “It was a complete transformation. My parents were new to the sport, and they just tried to provide whatever Harjas needed in the initial stage. It was his solo effort to improve his technique. I think the biggest part of career is that he started at an early age, and since our parents are from a sports background, they captured his interest and boosted him to be on the right path,” said Harnoor.
Harjas, who switched from being a right-hander to a left-hander, had joined the Revesby Workers Cricket Club at the age of 8. Later, he had the opportunity to represent Westfield Sports High School in Fairfield.
In the previous six matches of the World Cup, he scored a total of 49 runs, and kept his best for the final against India.
