Karnal’s Suman Sandhu selected for state U-23 women’s cricket team

Karnal’s Suman Sandhu has been selected for the Haryana Under-23 Women’s Cricket team and would represent the state in the upcoming tournament in Thiruvananthapuram. The young cricketer, a first-year BA student from Gagsina village, is overjoyed as her long-cherished dream of playing at the state level takes a major leap forward.

Suman, who has been passionate about cricket since childhood, says her ultimate goal is to wear the Indian women’s team jersey one day. Her talent and hard work were evident when she secured a place in the Haryana U-23 state camp, where her performances caught the selectors’ attention.

Her family has been a strong pillar of support. Her father, Dinesh Sandhu, is a farmer, while her mother, Sangeeta, is a homemaker. Her elder sister, Shivani Sandhu, is pursuing a graduation in Commerce, and her younger brother, Kartik Sandhu, is also completing his graduation. The family is delighted with Suman’s achievement, which has brought pride not only to their home but also to the entire village.

Suman said she was “on cloud nine” after making it to the Haryana squad and expressed heartfelt gratitude to her coach Udham Singh and the entire team at Narwal Academy, run by cricketer Sumit Narwal at Nishan Public School, for their guidance and encouragement. “I will try my best to give my 100 per cent in this tournament,” she said, brimming with determination.

Reflecting on her journey, Suman added that cricket is more than just a sport for her. “Cricket is a way to prove that girls can achieve as much as boys if given the opportunity,” she said, determined to inspire other young girls in rural Haryana to follow their dreams. With her selection, Suman has not only taken a major step in her sporting career but has also become a role model for aspiring girl cricketers in the region. She was welcomed by budding cricketers, her coach, and school staff when she arrived at the academy on Thursday.

“It is a proud moment for us that our girl is going to play for Haryana,” said Udham Singh, her coach.