Renuka Singh's Inspiring Cricket Journey from Shimla to World Cup Glory

Shimla, Nov 3 (PTI) - Renuka Singh Thakur's journey to cricket stardom began with humble beginnings in Parsa village, Rohru tehsil, Shimla district. From an early age, Renuka showed a deep love for cricket, often playing with boys in her neighborhood using handmade wooden bats and cloth balls, her mother Sunita fondly recalls.

Her late father, Kehar Singh Thakur, was an ardent cricket enthusiast, who hoped that one of his children would pursue sports, particularly cricket or kabaddi. Although he is no longer with them, Renuka has indeed turned his dream into reality. "Even as a young girl, Renuka was drawn to cricket, making balls out of cloth and batting in the streets," Sunita reminisced proudly.

Renuka played a pivotal role in the Indian team's historic World Cup victory. Celebrations erupted in the Thakur household on Sunday as they cheered with every South African wicket that fell. On Monday, the joy continued with a feast for the entire village, reveling in the glorious win.

Before Sunday’s final match, where India triumphed over South Africa by 52 runs in Navi Mumbai, Sunita encouraged her daughter with a heartfelt message: "Play for the country and not for yourself today and win the World Cup." Her words resonated, leading to a momentous victory.

Having lost her father when she was just three, Renuka keeps his memory alive with a tattoo of him on her hand. "Kehar was a cricket fanatic, so much so that he named his son Vinod Thakur after the cricketer Vinod Kambli," shared one of Sunita's relatives.

Renuka's talent was first spotted by her uncle, Bhupinder Thakur, a physical education teacher at the time. Recognizing her potential, he facilitated her move to the Dharamshala cricket academy, marking the beginning of her flourishing career. "It was my brother-in-law's support that allowed Renuka to chase her dreams," Sunita acknowledged.

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