Jaipur Cricketer Dimple Kanwar Sets Sights on National Team After Prestigious Honor
Jaipur all-rounder Dimple Kanwar has declared her ambition to represent the Indian women's cricket team and compete in the Women's Premier League, following her recognition at the seventh Sunder Kanti Joshi (SKJ) state women's cricket awards ceremony held on Friday. "I want to represent the Indian women's cricket team and play in the Women's Premier League soon. My confidence is boosted by the good performance in the last season," said Kanwar after receiving the award.
Outstanding Domestic Performance Earns Top Accolade
Dimple Kanwar was adjudged the best player in the senior category for her exceptional performance during the recently concluded BCCI domestic season. "These awards really motivate you to perform better. I will try to live up to the expectations of everyone by donning the national colours next season," she added on the sidelines of the event, organized by Radha Niwas Cricket Club to commemorate the birth anniversary of Sundar Kanti Joshi.
Her statistics from the BCCI national competitions are impressive:
- Scored 430 runs
- Took 6 wickets
- Completed 16 catches
Multiple Award Categories Recognize Emerging Talent
The SKJ Awards celebrated talent across various age groups:
- Senior Category: Dimple Kanwar received a cash prize of Rs 21,000 along with a memento, certificate, cricket kit, and travel kit.
- Junior Category: Tanika Sharma was honored after scoring 235 runs and taking 9 wickets, receiving Rs 15,000.
- Sub-Junior Category: Rochelle Yadav won the award with 172 runs and 9 wickets, awarded Rs 11,000 in cash plus a certificate, cricket kit, and travel kit.
Distinguished Guests Emphasize Women's Sports Development
The ceremony was graced by several notable figures who emphasized the importance of supporting women in sports. Sandeep Bhatnagar, Chief General Manager of SBI Jaipur Circle and chief guest, stressed the need for greater encouragement for women athletes. "Women are not lagging behind in any field. The country's women's cricket team recently proved this by winning the World Cup," he remarked.
Bharat Vyas, Additional Solicitor General who presided over the function, praised the Joshi family for initiating the SKJ Awards to encourage women cricketers, reminiscing about Rajasthan's cricket heritage.
Inspirational Voices from Sports Community
Sydney 2000 Olympian Paramjeet Choudhary shared her journey from Bikaner to the Olympics, stating that initiatives like the SKJ Awards inspire girls to pursue sports. Rajasthan Ranji Trophy stalwart Aniket Choudhary congratulated all awardees and wished them bright futures in their careers.
Former cricketer Asha Srivastava-Dutta, who represented Rajasthan in the 1970s, received the lifetime achievement award, adding historical significance to the event.
Organizational Support and Legacy
Host club president and Ranji cricketer Vipin Joshi, along with Rajasthan's only Guru Vashisht awardee cricket coach Ashok Joshi, presented mementos to guests. Club secretary Sharad Joshi detailed the award structure and benefits for winners.
The occasion was attended by several former Rajasthan cricket players including Vinod Mathur, Sanjay Vyas, Rohit Jhalani, Mohd Aslam, and Vilas Joshi, highlighting the community's support for women's cricket development in the region.
