Amit Shah, Mumbai: Team India became the champions of U19 Asia Cup by defeating Bangladesh by five runs. With this they have won the title for seventh time. The main reason behind India’s win in the final was Atharva Ankolekar of Mumbai and he was awarded Man of the Match for his brilliant performance. In a close game Bangladesh needed just eight runs to win when Atharva came to bowl. He took two wickets in two deliveries (five wickets in the match) in that over and handed India a nail biting win over their neighbours. Atharva’s mother Vaidehi Ankolekar saw the game on TV and after India’s win her eyes were filled with tears in happiness.
Atharva had struggled a lot at his early age. He lost his father Vinod Ankolekar at the age of nine who was a ticket conductor at bus service in Mumbai. Vinod himself was a very good cricketer and his dream was that his son also play cricket. After Vinod’s death his wife Vaidehi did’t let Atharva’s love for cricket go in vain. She made every effort to make Atharva a good cricketer. . Vaidhi is currently working as a bus conductor at Marol Bus Depot instead of her husband. After her son’s heroic performance Vaidehi has decided to give Atharva a special gift. “Everyone in our campus loves Atharva very much. Here all the people have organized a party tomorrow. He loves non-veg food. Tomorrow a special feast will be organized for him. I have kept a special gift for Atharva and will hand it to him when he will come to home tomorrow,” said Vaidehi.