Assam’s Flood-Hit Village Celebrates Uma Chetry’s debut in Indian Women’s Cricket Team

Assam : The months of June and July are the most difficult for individuals living in flood-affected parts of Assam. Lok Bahadur Chetry (62), of Kandulimari village in Golaghat district, was concerned because floods had once again ruined his crops, but there was good news in the form of his daughter Uma Chetri’s selection to the Indian senior women’s cricket team.

Uma made history by being the first woman from the north-eastern states to join the senior women’s squad.

Kandulimari village is located in the Golaghat district of Assam, 240.7 km from Guwahati.

Uma Chetry demonstrated that nothing is impossible if you have strong self-belief and dedication after overcoming numerous hurdles and floods. Uma Chetry is now regarded as an inspiration and a household name in the state.

Uma has set a good example for other girls and motivated them to excel in sports.

“I am happy for my daughter,” Lok Bahadur Chetry said. We never imagined Uma making the Indian squad. However, she remained optimistic and worked hard, which helped her be picked.”

“Every year, during the monsoon, our village is inundated, and our crops are damaged.” During floods, the road leading to our home becomes entirely buried in water. During such time, we must go by boat,” Chetry said.

When approached, Uma Chetry’s coach, Mehboob Alam, commented, “I am very happy that Uma was selected.” Today, I’m glad I coached her. She is self-disciplined and very diligent. Uma visited my academy in 2016-17. She had previously trained with Saidur Rahman alias Raja. She attended the coaching school to become a wicket-keeper batsman, and I noticed raw promise in her from the start. My academy is 7-8 km from her residence; she traversed the narrow, rocky path to get there.”

“We gave her the opportunity to practise with boys because of her potential, and she never disappointed.” “Her batting style is good because she moves well behind the stumps,” Alam said.

Binay Kalawar, an avid cricket fan, originally gave her a bicycle. He saw Uma’s talent and determination as she walked 7-8 km to the institution.

Ajay Sharma, the assistant secretary of the Assam Cricket Association (ACC) at the time, provided Uma her whole cricketing equipment.

“I can’t express my happiness,” Uma’s mother Dipa Chetry remarked. Uma is the youngest, and she has always been interested in cricket. When she was playing with a potato, we discovered her love of cricket. We purchased her a plastic cricket bat and ball after a few days.”

“When Uma was 11 years old, she started her cricketing journey, and that’s when her schoolmate Montu Kumar Yadav saw her wicket-keeping skills,” Uma’s mother said. He brought her to Saidur Rahman for tutoring, and it was then that she refined her talents as a wicket-keeper for the first time. She has been a diligent worker since she was a youngster.”

Aparna Karmakar, who played state-level cricket with Uma Chetry, expressed her delight upon Uma’s selection to the Indian senior women’s cricket squad.

Aparna, Uma’s close friend, said, “Her dream has come true.” She always said I’d make the Indian team one day. She is a fierce competitor in cricket. She is a strong hitter in addition to her wicket-keeping abilities. I wish her the best of success in the future.”

“In 2011, Uma came to me for coaching, when women’s cricket was just getting started in Bokakhat,” stated Saidur Rahman, Uma’s initial coach. She approached me as a wicket-keeper batsman. Uma was always eager to learn and a dedicated worker. I’m proud of her since she’s my pupil.”

Imtiaz Ahmed, a senior sports writer, said, “There are a lot of opportunities for girls in cricket, and the game has improved a lot in the state.” The coaching facilities have much increased, and if they can demonstrate their ability, it will be much simpler for them to be picked. Everyone was taken aback when Uma was unable to attend the IPL. Uma is Assam’s finest better. The BCCI chose her for the senior squad since she has shown her ability to play excellent cricket. “I wish her the best of luck in the future,” Ahmed continued.

Uma earned waves as an amazing wicket-keeper hitter at the ACC women’s developing team Asia Cup 2023 last month in Hong Kong. Uma’s outstanding exploits with the bat and behind the stumps in the team’s 31-run victory against Bangladesh in the Women’s Emerging Asia Cup final drew the notice of the selectors.