Kolkata: Mithali Raj and co had a wonderful world cup for whom the proper icing on the cake would have been the women’s World Cup trophy. But unfortunately at the end, the Indian eves fell agonizingly short of the target by just nine runs. Despite ending on the losing end, they have won a million hearts all across the country with the fight they’ve put up in the tournament.
Jhulan Goswami, who is the highest wicket-taker in women’s ODI’s and one of the stars of the world cup campaign said that they have taken the defeat under their chin and also spoke about the importance of sports in one’s life.
“Participating in sports is very important for everyone. Wherever I go, I’ve always said that sports teaches you things which nothing else in life would teach you,” said Jhulan at an event where the Aditya School of Sports for felicitated her for the brilliant show in the recently concluded Women’s World Cup.
She further added, “You may not take up sports as a profession, but no matter whether you are a doctor, an engineer, an IAS or an officer, sports will teach you things that will help you a lot in life. The field will teach you many interesting lessons which will help you personally overcome the ups and downs of life and you would be able to handle such tough situations on your own.”
Talking about the final, she said, “We tried our level best but again, cricket proved it’s unpredictability. No one watching the match would have thought that we would lose the match but yet, in the last one hour, the game changed completely and we ended up on the losing side. But that’s life. Things like these teaches you many things.”
After the conclusion of the World Cup, the stellar performance of the women cricketers led many to speculate about a possible women’s IPL in the future. However Goswami felt that although it may take time, it might be possible.
“The BCCI is thinking about this now. It will take up time as the next calendar has been fixed. Very soon you will get the news,” she said.
There have been many memorable contributions in India’s march to the finals and the powerful innings by Harmanpreet Kaur against heavyweights Australia in the semi-final was undoubtedly one of the best of them all.
She played a bold and a fearless innings which at the end turned out to be the difference maker between the two sides.
Opining on Harmanpreet knock, Jhulan said, “She is an aggressive batswoman. I have watched her play many such innings, which were unfortunately not televised. This is nothing but the 171* against Australia has to be one of the best innings I’ve seen in my life.”
On her availability in the next world cup, she said, “I will try my level best to take part in the next World Cup. I am beginning my training after 10 days,” said Jhulan.