Prime Highlights:
- Harmanpreet Kaur led India’s women’s cricket team to their first-ever World Cup victory, marking a historic milestone for Indian sports.
- The win symbolizes a new era for women’s cricket in India, inspiring more young girls to take up the sport.
Key Facts:
- The World Cup prize pool was $14 million, with an extra $5 million bonus announced by India’s cricket board.
- Over 300 million fans watched the final online, and more than 40,000 people attended the match in Mumbai.
Background:
Captain Harmanpreet Kaur led the women of India to their first-ever World Cup win in the sport of cricket. A significant achievement for Indian women in the field of cricket was the midnight triumph, which was cheered by a crowd of more than 40,000.
For Kaur, 36, the night symbolized how far she has come from balancing long days as a railway clerk with grueling training sessions to lifting the World Cup trophy in the very city where she once ran to catch the last train home after practice. Kaur said the team has performed well for many years, but this victory finally marks the breakthrough they’ve been hoping for.
Vice-captain Smriti Mandhana called the victory a step toward changing how India views women in sports. She said her dream is to see girls playing cricket everywhere, simply because they enjoy it.
The growth of women’s cricket in India has been steady since 2017, when players began receiving national contracts. The Young women in Cricket have received a new opportunity due to the Women’s Premier League, which was supported by a 500 million investment.
The recent World Cup prize pooled 14 million with a 5 million bonus by the Indian cricket board, which is an indication of increased support. More than 300 million viewed over the internet, and stadiums were filled because India defeated Australia in the semifinals, after years of hard losses.
The night was an event honoring hard work, equality and the emergence of the Indian female in the world of cricket.
