JAIPUR: To encourage and identify cricketing talent among girls in the rural areas of Rajasthan, a talent search programme will be underway from the end of the month.
Former Rajasthan player and chief selector of senior women’s team Gangotri Chauhan, who is associated with scouting talent at the state-level, said that the focus will be on selecting girls between age 10-15 with potential to do well in the sport.
“We will involve schools at the block level to make the process smooth. Also, the aim will be to educate parents on the prospects of letting their girl child make a career in cricket. We will try to pick at least one talented player from each district,” she said.
The talent hunt is being organised by Aadishakti Women Foundation founded by Gangotri.
The former batter said that it will be only women who will be involved in the searching and training process of the young talent. Gangotri added that the entire process is expected to take at least one year.
“You cannot search and groom talent overnight. It is bound to take time and we are ready to devote ourselves to it. Once we identify the talent, those girls will be given free cricket training and their education and other necessities will be looked after by the foundation in Jaipur,” she informed.
The programme will definitely add to the existing pool of women cricketers in the state and with women’s IPL coming up next year, there always is a possibility of exposure for the youngsters if they get picked.
