Harmanpreet to get a rousing welcome in Moga tomorrow
MOGA: Harmanpreet Kaur returns home to a hero’s welcome on Thursday.
Her native Duneke village in Punjab’s Moga district, where she started playing cricket in the streets with boys, is celebrating her brilliant 171 knock (not out) against Australia that powered India into the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup final last week. It was a heartbreaking final for the Indian women’s team as they lost to England by nine runs at Lord’s in London.
Harmanpreet’s father Harmandar Singh said she will land in Mumbai at 3am on Wednesday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will honour the team, while the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has planned a lunch and a felicitation in Delhi on Thursday.
Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee general secretary Manjinder Singh Sirsa told the family that the DSGMC also plans to honour Harmanpreet on Thursday. Preparations are underway in the district, where the administration is planning a motorcade in appreciation of the player. She will be brought in an open jeep and will be dropped at her house after a round of the city.
The state government has announced Rs 5 lakh as reward and a job of deputy superintendent of police (DSP) for her performance at the World Cup. Harmandar Singh said Gian Jyoti School Academy also planned a carcade in Zira and Talwandi in Harmanpreet’s honour. Harmanpreet underwent training at Gian Jyoti School Academy in Classes 11 and 12.