The players presented a signed team shirt with ‘NAMO 1’ printed on it to the Prime Minister. The event was also attended by BCCI President Mithun Manhas. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur recalled the team’s meeting with the Prime Minister in 2017 after their loss to England in the World Cup final at Lord’s. She said that at the time they met him without the trophy, while this time they were proud to meet him as a champion.
Smriti Mandhana, who finished the tournament as the second-highest run-getter with 434 runs in nine innings, termed the Prime Minister’s encouragement as a source of motivation for the team. She said girls across the country were excelling in every area, and the Prime Minister’s support had played a key role in this progress.
Deepti Sharma, who was adjudged Player of the Tournament for her 215 runs and 22 wickets, expressed her delight on meeting the Hon’ble Prime Minister. She recalled his words from 2017, when he encouraged the players to keep working hard to achieve their dreams. The Prime Minister has noticed her ‘Jai Shri Ram’ Instagram post and Hanuman tattoo, which she termed as her source of strength.
During the conversation, the captain asked the Prime Minister how he manages to always remain calm and focused. He replied that it was a natural habit for him to stay in the present. He also referred to Harleen Deol’s famous catch against England in 2021, which he had publicly appreciated.
The Prime Minister also appreciated Harmanpreet’s act of pocketing the match ball after the final and Amanjot Kaur’s catch to dismiss South African women’s captain Laura Wolvaardt in the title clash. He noted that players focus on the ball while catching, but after catching it, they should keep their eyes on the trophy.
Kranti Gaud spoke of her brother’s admiration for the Prime Minister, who in response extended an open invitation to meet them. The Prime Minister has urged the players to promote the ‘Fit India’ movement, especially among young girls, and visit schools to inspire students to take up fitness and sports.
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