Sonia Mendhiya’s epic journey: From father’s loss to ladies’s Under-19 T20 World Cup triumph

Sonia Mendhiya was a part of the Indian staff that gained the inaugural Under-19 ladies’s T20 World Cup in South Africa. India defeated England by 8 wickets within the ultimate to carry the celebrated trophy. 

New Delhi,UPDATED: Jan 30, 2023 21:41 IST

Sonia Mendhiya gained the Under-19 ladies’s T20 World Cup (Getty Images)

By Pawan Rathi: Sonia Mendhiya was a part of the Indian staff that gained the inaugural Under-19 ladies’s T20 World Cup in South Africa. India defeated England by 8 wickets within the ultimate to carry the celebrated trophy.

Under the management of Shafali Verma, a resident of Rohtak, India lifted the coveted Under-19 T20 World Cup. Another participant from Rohtak performed on this staff, whose identify is Sonia Mendhiya. Sonia Mendhiya is a resident of Brahmanwas, a small village in Rohtak district. Two ladies from Rohtak performed within the Indian staff, as a consequence of which the identify of not solely Haryana but in addition Rohtak has been illuminated.

Sonia was born in a Dalit household on 20 May 2004 in village Brahmanwas. Three daughters and one youngest son have been born to Rajpal Mendhiya. Father Rajpal was taking good care of the household by working exhausting within the village itself. A mountain of sorrow broke down on the household when Sonia was solely 4 years outdated.

The father’s shadow was lifted from Sonia’s head, after which, her mom Saroj took care of the household indirectly.

Sonia’s mom, Saroj, is illiterate, who began working as a helper within the Anganwadi within the village on a wage of two and a half thousand rupees. Today it has been eight years, and nonetheless her wage is 5 and a half thousand. Sonia’s mom has led the household by way of excessive poverty and hardship. Even at the moment, the household lives in a single room.

“When I used to work as a helper in the Anganwadi, I used to take her along with me to the Anganwadi where she used to play with the children with a plastic ball. On coming home, she used to play with the children in the street with a wooden thapi, which is used to wash clothes,” said Sonia’s mother.

“As Sonia grew up, she gradually became interested in cricket. She started insisting that she has to play cricket. Initially her mother forbade her to play but she was defeated by his stubbornness,” Sonia’s mom added.

Sonia began enjoying on the age of 13. She was despatched to Shri Ram Academy in Jhajjar Road, Rohtak. She was so courageous that she used to journey alone from the village to Rohtak metropolis, which is 20-25 kilometers each day in an auto rickshaw.

“Only two or three girls, including Shafali Verma, used to practice in the academy. After that we never stopped her from playing cricket. My daughter’s dream was to play cricket and her dream came true. We have high hopes from him that he plays further for India,” mentioned Sonia’s mom.

Sonia performed worldwide cricket for the primary time and he or she led India to win the Under 19 T20 Women’s World Cup.

Edited By:

Rounaq Sehrawat

Published On:

Jan 30, 2023