Finally after an 11-year-long wait, the Indian women’s cricket team skipper, Mithali Raj got what she deserves. Back in 2005, she had been promised a plot but the promise didn’t seem to come true as successive governments were not interested in fulfilling the promise made to the 34-year-old cricketer.
Four days after the heartbreaking defeat from England in the final of the ICC Women’s World Cup 2017, skipper Mithali Raj received a warm welcome at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport. On her way home, the skipper called the chief minister, Chandrasekhar Rao at his camp office. Rao immediately announced a cash award of Rs 1 crore and 600 square yards of land at Banjara Hills for Mithali. He also announced Rs 25 lakh for her coach RSR Murthy.
Rao said to Mithali, “You have played wonderfully in the World Cup. We thought you will surely win the final too. Unfortunately, we lost by a slender margin. But your team performed well and the whole nation watched your performance. Even I watched the match. You have set a record by scoring the highest number of runs. You are the pride of Telangana and Hyderabad city . The government will stand by you.”
Mithali on meeting the CM said, “It is for the first time that I have been driven to the CM’s camp office from the airport. That in itself is a very happy feeling for me.He told me that he had watched the final and what was most amazing was that he knew all my world records and scores. That has given such a personal touch to his appreciation of my game. Everyone at the camp office was eager to meet me and hear about the matches. It was a thrilling feeling to be the cynosure of so many top officials of our state. To see that my performance brings so much of joy to so many people is a humbling experience.”