NEW DELHI: The Indian women’s cricket team has set a new benchmark with its World Cup triumph, and the next goal is to turn success into a habit, said pacer Renuka Thakur after returning to her native village in Shimla district on Sunday.
Renuka received a grand welcome from her family and villagers upon arrival. She visited the famous Hatkoti Temple near Rohru to offer prayers and seek blessings. Speaking to reporters, she said, “My hard work is yielding results, but the credit goes to my mother and Bhupinder uncle, who spotted my talent and supported me.”
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A dream fulfilled for late father
Renuka carries a tattoo of her father on her hand, which she said serves as her biggest motivation. Her father, Kehar Singh Thakur, dreamed of seeing his children excel in sports, but he passed away when Renuka was just three. It was her mother, Sunita Thakur, who single-handedly raised Renuka and her brother.
“There was a lot of pressure as we had lost three matches back-to-back, and the last three were crucial. But we never lost hope of winning the World Cup,” she said. Renuka added that the team’s victory would inspire more parents to encourage their children to pursue sports.
When asked about the team’s interaction with Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, Renuka said, “He knew about all the players, including my journey.”
Himachal first to assure a job
Renuka said Himachal Pradesh was the first state to assure her a government job. On November 3, Chief Minister Shri Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu had called her to announce a cash award of ₹1 crore for the pacer.
Her uncle, Bhupinder Singh Thakur, who discovered her talent and guided her early career, said her success was the result of 13 to 14 years of relentless hard work. He also extended his gratitude to Renuka’s coach at the Dharamshala Cricket Academy, Pawan Sen, and her trainer Veena Pandey.
(With PTI Inputs)
