Bengaluru: Two girls from Karnataka are stars now in world women cricket


Daijiworld Media Network –Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Jul 23: In what can be termed as a real life ‘Chak De’ match, ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup to be held on Sunday, July 23 will definitely push us at the edge of our seat. This is only the second time, India is qualified to play the finals and if the ‘Women in Blue’ manages to beat England, they will create history by winning the first world cup for the country in Women’s cricket.

In this splendid cricket team captained by the very able Mithali Raj, two Karnataka girls Veda Krishnamurthy and Rajeshwari Gayakwad have become the team's noted players, whose efforts have resulted in team being qualified for the finals.

India’s match against New Zealand saw Rajeshwari Gayakwad picking five wickets and trashing New Zealand by 186 runs to reach the ICC Women’s World Cup semi-finals. Veda too scored a whirlwind 70 off 45 balls in the same match. The team then ousted defending champion Australia in the semi-finals and qualified for the finals due to take place today.

However, to realize their dream for playing for the Indian Cricket team, the two Karnataka women have struggled against all odds.

Veda Krishnamurthy

Veda Krishnamurthy is a daughter of a cable operator, who moved to Bengaluru from Kadur in Chikkamagaluru district to pursue cricket.

“When she first went to Karnataka Institute of Cricket (KIOC) the coach who recognized her potential said that she would play for India. My father didn’t know what to do,” says Vatsala, Veda’s sister.

For nine months Veda stayed in Bengaluru without her family. Later, Vatsala moved with her to take care of her. “Our father ensured that we had no shortcomings and Veda also worked very hard,” says Vatsala recalling what she calls the ‘tough days’.

“There has never been a situation where my parents or siblings have stopped me from playing. Since I was a kid, I was always on the streets and my mother never discouraged me from playing with boys. In fact, she encouraged me to play all the 'boys' sports,” Veda was quoted saying to a sports magazine.

Irfan Sait, Veda’s coach at KIOC, recollects the 24-year-old as always being dynamic and hard-working. With a background in Karate she is agile and has excellent hand and eye coordination, he says and adds that he played her in the team only because of her fielding and catching. She was only 14 then.

“We always knew she would be a top cricketer. Veda is only living up to it,” he said.

Rajeshwari Gayakwad

Meanwhile, journey for Rajeshwari Gayakwad has also not been easy. Gayakwad who was declared the player of the match after she took five wickets in the match against Kiwis on July 15, had to shift from Vijayapura in North Karnataka to pursue her dream.

Savithri, Rajeshwari’s mother, credits her late husband Shivananda Gayakwad, a government school headmaster, for the 26-year-old’s success and adds that he would have been very proud to watch his daughter play the finals.

“My husband had great passion for cricket and encouraged our children to take up sports,” she says.

In a matter of fact, sports run deep in this family. Rajewshwari is an accomplished javelin and discus thrower; also a volleyball player. But she switched to cricket on her father's insistence.

Her youngest sister Rameshwari is a state level cricketer in Karnataka and has also played for India Green. Her eldest sister, Bhuvaneshwari, is a hockey player and one of the brothers, Vishwanath, is a badminton and volleyball player.

“Those initial days were tough as we had to take care of the family expenses and cricket coaching expenses with our limited salary. Yet, he saw to it that the coaching didn’t get affected. If he were alive today, he would have been elated and would have celebrated the most just by looking at the success of our daughter,” Savithri was quoted telling a newspaper.

Recently, Sachin Tendulkar also encouraged Rajewshwari with a post, “Shivanand Gayakwad, your father, is your source of inspiration and encouragement, Rajeshwari. I’m sure you will be that same source of inspiration for many young men and women to come. Well played!” 

  

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Comment on this article

  • Kiran Hawaldar, Raleigh, NC , USA

    Mon, Jul 31 2017

    You are truly two bright stars from Karnataka. God bless you both and continue to shine like this in the international cricket arena.
    By the way, I am originally from Bijapur (settled currently in US) and that makes me even more proud.
    Good luck and best wishes !!

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • Af,,, Mangalore

    Mon, Jul 24 2017

    Kaige bandha tuttu baiyee baralilla. so sad, it was our cup unfortunatly lost.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [7] Reply Report Abuse

  • ????, Chikkamagaluru

    Mon, Jul 24 2017

    Hemmeya Kannadathiyaru, Jai Karnataka, Jai Bharatha

    DisAgree Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai

    Mon, Jul 24 2017

    We lost a match which was already in our pocket ...

    DisAgree Agree [10] Reply Report Abuse

  • Wilfred J. Lewis, Matpady-Brahmavar/ New York, USA

    Mon, Jul 24 2017

    Well performed. Veda and Rajeshwari have added additional feathers to Karnataka's Cricket Crown. Karnataka has been a Cricket State, ever since Cricket matches were begun in India. In Lady Cricket, the first ever Cricket Star Shanta Rangaswamy has been an excellent all rounder, first century scored woman cricketer, Cricket Captain for India. I wish Veda and Rajeshwari may shine in international and national cricket like highly acclaimed Shanta Rangaswamy of Karnataka.

    DisAgree Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse

  • ^Rita, Germany

    Mon, Jul 24 2017

    Makes one proud to hear that our karnataka girls are really in cricket ,and world class.One thing ,whether this women cricket is all over recognized as men s ,and are they paid too good as men?In any sport or work,women are not paid and recognized as men anywhere ,however good their work is.Hope our girls are on winning team.

    DisAgree Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • Langoolacharya., Belman/Wash DC.

    Mon, Jul 24 2017

    Rita is right here....men are paid more in sports...I don't know why...

    I think very few watch women's cricket...may be its new phenomenon or perhaps quality of game is less compared to men's cricket...

    Rita, were you playing cricket when you were in Belman???...

    ...JH...

    DisAgree Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • Augustine Daniel DSouza, Udupi / Mumbai / STATE OF KUWAIT.

    Mon, Jul 24 2017

    Good News Karnataka girls are shining in World Women Cricket. GOD BLESS.

    DisAgree Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai

    Sun, Jul 23 2017

    Even Vijay Mallya could not save England ...

    DisAgree [3] Agree [1] Reply Report Abuse

  • k b r, Mangala Uru

    Sun, Jul 23 2017

    GIRLPOWER of Karnataka

    DisAgree Agree [6] Reply Report Abuse

  • Evans Christopher Sumitra, Udupi/ New York, USA.

    Sun, Jul 23 2017

    I have no words to express the achievement of these two girls from Karnataka. Veda Krishnamurti and Rajeshwari Gayakwad, you are not stars in world women cricket but SUPER STARS. You both have made our country proud and wish you all the very best in your future cricket career.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [7] Reply Report Abuse

  • Joseph Rego, Kinnigoli/Ras Al Khaimah

    Sun, Jul 23 2017

    These two are the great inspiration for our young Karnataka girls. I hope and pray our team will win this world cup and bring new dimension to our nation. Women team should get the same respect that of men team. God bless you all.

    DisAgree Agree [19] Reply Report Abuse

  • Flavian, Mangalore/Kuwait

    Sun, Jul 23 2017

    These crickt teams and the players not less than the boys. in
    -Bowling
    - Fielding
    -Batting (the aggressivness in connecting and hooking for Six)
    - their body language
    Wow!
    Let us pray and wish that India will bring the Cup.
    Our Mangalore girls are not showing interest in playing Cricket? They are interested only watching criket matches I believe.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [15] Reply Report Abuse

  • Desi Jawan, Mangalore

    Sun, Jul 23 2017

    Proud of not only our Karnataka girls but also whole Indian womens cricket team. Wish you all the best in the world cup finals. GO INDIA .. GO...INDIA... INDIA... INDIA...

    DisAgree [2] Agree [22] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai

    Sun, Jul 23 2017

    Karnataka is now World Class ...

    DisAgree [3] Agree [23] Reply Report Abuse

  • Abdul Narayan D'Souza, Udupi

    Sun, Jul 23 2017

    First time in 70 years..... Jossey

    DisAgree [2] Agree [7] Reply Report Abuse

  • G R PRABHUJI, Mangalore

    Sun, Jul 23 2017

    Good news. Karnataka is shining

    DisAgree [1] Agree [16] Reply Report Abuse

  • Francis Saldanha, Bahrain

    Sun, Jul 23 2017

    Hard work does not go unnoticed, and rewards will follow! Hugh Congratulations 'Karnataka Girls' and Team India. Good luck for the final.

    DisAgree Agree [12] Reply Report Abuse

  • Beowulf, Mangalore

    Sun, Jul 23 2017

    teams from 8 countries took part in this world cup. 8 countries out of 196 countries in the world.

    DisAgree [3] Agree [15] Reply Report Abuse


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