Last week at Eden Gardens, the West Bengal government collaborated with the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) and organized an event to felicitate Richa for her significant contribution in helping India win the Women’s World Cup for the first time. At the event, the wicketkeeper-batsman from Siliguri was presented with Bengal’s highest civilian award – Bangla Bhushan, along with a cash reward of a whopping INR 34 lakhs, in honor of her 34-run knock in the final against South Africa at the Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai.
Richa was also appointed as Deputy Superintendent of Police by the West Bengal government. She also received a gold-plated bat and ball signed by CAB president Sourav Ganguly and Indian legend Jhulan Goswami, who were also present at the event.
While congratulating Richa and the entire Indian team, West Bengal Prime Minister Mamata Banerjee revealed her plans to ensure that this achievement is remembered for generations to come. Banerjee assured that a stadium will soon be built in Darjeeling on a 27-acre land under the name “Richa Ghosh Stadium”.
“Richa became a world champion at the age of 22. On behalf of the West Bengal government, we honored her but I want to do more. There is about 27 acres of land in Darjeeling and I have asked the mayor to plan a cricket stadium there. It should be called Richa Cricket Stadium so that people can remember and be inspired by her performance in the future,” Mamata Banerjee said.
Richa, who scored 235 runs from eight matches with a highest total of 94, becomes the first Indian woman cricketer to have a stadium named after her. In the past, stalwarts like Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami have been honored with stands named after them at Visakhapatnam’s ACA-VDCA Stadium and Kolkata’s Eden Gardens respectively.
Get every cricket update! Follow us:
#West #Bengal #Mamata #Banerjee #promises #cricket #stadium #named #Richa #Ghosh #Darjeeling #Womens #World #Cup #heroics