Uma Chetri: Uma Chhetri became the first cricketer from Assam to play in India’s ‘Team India’, mother is the inspiration of this 20 year old player
Uma Chhetri belongs to a simple family. His family members are involved in agriculture and daily wage earners. Financial problems also did not deter Uma from pursuing her dream.
The daughter of a mother who inspired her to break barriers and hails from Golaghat district of Assam, Uma Chhetri created history by making it to Indian cricket. 20-year-old Uma Chhetri is the first player from this state in the northeastern region to make it to the senior Indian cricket team. Uma is part of the Indian team that will tour Bangladesh this month.
Congratulating her on her achievement, the state’s chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma wrote on Twitter: “Cricket in Assam has entered a wonderful new chapter as we proudly witness our first ever representation in the Indian women’s national cricket team.” Congratulations Uma Chhetri for her achievement, becoming the first player from our state to wear the blue jersey.
“We will support Uma and the Indian team on the upcoming tour of Bangladesh. We wish him great success on the field. Uma’s brother Vijay Chhetri, a resident of Kandulimari village in Bokakhat in the state, told PTI over phone, “We got this news late last night. We talked to him this morning. We are all happy and very proud of him.
Uma Chhetri is the youngest daughter of her parents among 5 siblings.
Uma is the youngest and only sister among five siblings. Uma fell in love with cricket from the time she first picked up a plastic bat. Vijay Chhetri said, “From the time he held a plastic bat for the first time, his interest in the game grew. When she was in 5th or 6th grade, she started practicing and training professionally at the Bokakhat Stadium.
Mother supported Uma despite not being educated
Uma’s mother is not very educated, but she made sure that her daughter gets all the facilities which could not be possible for her. He made sure that Uma was not left behind just because she was a girl. Uma’s mother said, ‘As a woman, I had to face some obstacles. I did not want that she could not fulfill her dream just because she is a girl.
Uma Chhetri also faced financial crisis
Uma Chhetri belongs to a simple family. His family members are involved in agriculture and daily wage earners. Financial problems also did not deter Uma from pursuing her dream. Ajay Sharma, the treasurer of the Golaghat District Sports Association, has seen Uma practicing at the Bokakhat stadium since her early years.
used to play cricket with boys
Ajay Sharma said, ‘Around 2011-12, we first saw a girl from Bokakhat English High School, which is located next to the school stadium. She used to play cricket with the boys here after school. When she started coming here regularly, our coach contacted her. Impressed by his talent, his professional coaching was started.
Raja Rahman and Mehboob Alam were Uma Chhetri’s first coaches
Ajay Sharma, former joint secretary of the Assam Cricket Association (ACA), said, “Uma’s first coaches were Raja Rahman and Mehboob Alam and she still practices regularly under Alam’s supervision. ACA also helped him move forward. Uma is also currently in ACA Guwahati. She will join the Indian team in Mumbai later this week and then leave for Mirpur in Bangladesh.
The Indian team will play three T20 Internationals and as many ODIs in Bangladesh from July 9 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium. Apart from Uma Chhetri, Yastika Bhatia is another wicketkeeper in the team. Experienced wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh has not been given a place in the team.
