Internet Desk: India women’s team skipper Mithali Raj feels that a broad publicity through the social media and the live match coverage of ICC Women’s World Cup in England helped the Women’s cricket to grow in the country.
The Women in Blue ended as the runners-up in the ICC Women’s World Cup which was played in England. Mithali Raj and Co. lost the big final against the hosts at Lord’s. It was the nation’s second runners-up finish under Mithali Raj. Earlier they ended the tournament as the second best back in 2005.
“In 2005, there was not much coverage and no live telecast of our matches. We don’t have any videos of those games. We only have with us the experience of our journey in 2005,” Mithali recalled after being felicitated by the Ficci Ladies Organisation (FLO), which conducted an interactive session titled ‘Breaking the Boundaries’.
“This year, the wide publicity on social media and live television coverage of ICC World Cup has changed dynamics of women’s cricket in India. The visibility in this World Cup was immense. We got more followers. We couldn’t get this momentum earlier.”
Mithali also broke her silence about her tough days in cricket.”Way back in 90s, it was very difficult for us to go through the journey where in U-16 and U-19 we had to travel in unreserved trains and used to stay in hostels. And it continued when the women’s cricket was under WCI (Women’s Cricket Association of India).
“Unlike the US where everything is in place to groom sportspersons for the Olympics, in India we need to make it big before getting some recognition and support from the government.”
Mithali’s veteran teammate Jhulan Goswami said: “The career of a sportsperson is usually short. For women there is also the challenge of marriage and family. It is more of a gamble, one can fail or succeed.”