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| Friday, 13 June 2003 |
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Kalpana, a coach with class A strikingly pretty woman, one would hardly associate Kalpana Venkatachar with the rough game of cricket. Poised, soft-spoken, she moves with dignity as any Asian woman does. Kalpana was fascinated with cricket as a child as all Indians are. Cricket is a national passion not confined to men but women too. So, Kalpana would as a child hear cricket-talk in her home and without being seriously aware, nurtured a passion for it. She played it in the backyard as a prelude to a future that awaited her. By the time she got into her mid-teens, Kalpana would play the game perfectly well with all the technicalities in place and with the ease of a teenage boy. She first played for Falcon SC and shifted to Karnetaka Under-18 and Under-19 teams. By 1981, she had claimed her national cap that led to a spectacular career in international cricket. In 1983, she was a member of the World Cup team that played in England. As the national wicket keeper, she still holds a record of maximum dismissals in a single match which is 18 dismissals at the World Cup. Later Kalpana played in many one-day internationals, especially against Australia, England, Sri Lanka etc. She also played in many Test matches. Always an opening batswoman and wicket-keeper, it was a combination she excelled in. But Kalpana never hung her boots. She continues in the game as coach and watching her at it, it is obvious the girls have a lot of respect and admiration for their coach. Kalpana paid a glowing tribute to the Lankan cricketers and said they could be developed into one of the strongest teams in the IWCC. About the forthcoming World Cup 2005 in South Africa, Kalpana is confident that India would clinch it from the holders, New Zealand. But she said, Sri Lanka with her potential developed can upset. Kalpana represents the modern Indian woman who has come a long way to put women in par with men not only in cricket but professionally too. Kalpana is a banker. |
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