'U19 World Cup is reward for her passion, I can bear any loss for such win' - U19 star Gongadi Trisha's father opens up on his family's early struggles

India U19 star Gongadi Trisha was nurtured to play cricket from a minor age of seven and was made to watch cricket matches instead of cartoons. Indian women scripted history on January 29 as the team won the inaugural edition of the ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup 2023. They defeated England in one-sided affair to clinch the trophy as they won the game with seven wickets and six overs to spare.

Tracing her journey, it came on the fore that Trisha's father Gongadi Reddy made a very risky decision of selling their gym and resigning from his job as a fitness trainer at a gym to make sure that her daughter plays cricket at the highest level. Trisha and her family shifted to Secunderabad from Bhadrachalam so that she can have adequate facilities for her training and development.

She played an important part in yesterday’s victory as she stitched an important 46-run partnership with Saumya Tiwari for the third wicket in order to make sure India crosses the line in the final. The World Cup winner’s father spoke about his initial days and the sports he was into.

“I played in the state U-16 hockey team before that I concentrated on my fitness business and job. I also played cricket along with hockey and wanted my child to play cricket," said Reddy's father while speaking to The Indian Express.

I had to sell my gym to one of my relatives, says Trisha's father

The right-handed batter’s father then spoke about the struggle he and their family made to make sure she can achieve her dream. He added, “While she initially played in Bhadrachalam, we had to make a decision to shift to Secunderabad to pursue her cricketing dreams and I had to sell my gym to one of my relatives at what was more than 50 percent less than the market rate. Later I also sold four acres of our farmland to support the training. To watch her help India win the U-19 World Cup is the reward for Trisha’s passion and for such a win, I can bear any loss.”

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