City girls want to get name and fame through cricket

Visakhapatnam: Cricket is undoubtedly the most popular sport in India. It is played in every nook and corner of the country. Many people realised that girls if given chance have the potential of making a name for themselves in tnis sport. Indian Women's Cricket team reaching the finals and semi-finals of ICC Women's World Cup and ICC Women's T20 World Cup in the last two years took the game a leap forward.

With a hope to become the next Mithali Raj, Jhulan Goswami or Harmanpreet Kaur, little girls from different corners of Visakhspatnam city make their way to ACA-VDCA stadium every day.

Beginning with more than 25 girls in 2007, the cricket camp for girls now boast the number of budding cricketers touching 60.

Under the guidance of certified coaches N Suneeta, S Kavitha, D Kalyani and fitness trainer G Polamma, girls from the age of four learn basics till the age of eight and then they are given coaching in bowling, batting and fielding regularly.

Starting from providing free coaching through-out the year and arranging seasonal camps apart from selecting talented players to U-16s and seniors team, the coaches and staff of Andhra Cricket Association-Visakhapatnam District Cricket Association (ACA-VDCA) academy support the players in every possible way.

Women cricketers can avail coaching facilities without having any selection process provided they come regularly to the camp. Speaking about the role of ACA-VDCA in the growth of women's cricket, Honorary Secretary K. Parthasarathi said "We provide coaching to girls from any age group without any restrictions and we don't have any specific number to restrict candidates from receiving coaching. Gym, fitness trainer, separate net facilities and female coaches are allotted to girls."