India Women's cricketer Minnu Mani honoured by her district's municipality; Wayanad railway junction gets renamed after her

India cricketer Minnu Mani was honoured by the Manathavady Municipality of Wayanad district, as they renamed a railway junction after her. The Mysuru road junction will now be known as the 'Minnu Mani junction'. Despite not having a motorable road to her home at Mananthavady, the 24-year-old is happy that the people of her native town named a major junction after her.

Mani, who recently made her international debut in the T20I series against Bangladesh, expressed her excitement and stated that it was unexpected. The off-spinner recently helped India win the three-match T20I series against Bangladesh by 2-1.

“This was quite unexpected and I am very much excited”, Minnu Mani was quoted as saying by Onmanorama.

In a meeting held to honour the cricketer, prominent leaders promised to construct a motorable road to the cricketer's home. Mananthavady MLA OR Kelu revealed that the discussions are on to construct a road to Mani’s home which is about 200 meters away from the municipal road. Notably, the family cannot afford to construct the road on their own without any other sources of income.

Mr Kelu further stated that he will make sure that a motorable road to the Indian cricketer’s home becomes a reality soon.  The Mananthavady municipal council held on July 14, decided to rename the ‘Mysuru Road Junction’ of the municipality as ‘Minnu Mani Junction’. Mananthavady Municipal chairperson, CK Rathnavally, disclosed that the municipal council reached the decision after a series of ideas mooted to honour Minnu. 

Minnu Mani finished as the second-highest wicket-taker of the T20I series

Minnu Manni recently made her international debut during the first T20I against Bangladesh on July 09 in Mirpur. She dismissed Shamima Sultana to get her first scalp in T20Is. She further picked up 2/9 (4 overs) and 2/28 (4 overs) in the remaining two matches and finished as the second-highest wicket-taker of the series. The off-spinner scaped five wickets in three matches at an average of 11.60 and an economy of 5.27 during the series.