‘Peace of Shimla, smile of mountains’ - PM Narendra Modi praises pacer Renuka Singh

The Indian women’s team clinched the silver medal in the inaugural T20 tournament at the 2022 Commonwealth Games held in Birmingham. While the team lost to Australia in the finale, there were several positives for the Women in Blue, none more so than Renuka Singh, who baffled the batters with her extravagant swing bowling abilities. Indian PM Narendra Modi was all praise for the rising star when he hosted the Indian contingent following their success at the recently concluded CWG.

India finished their campaign in the fourth position with 61 medals to their name and the success of the Indian women’s cricket team was one of the highlights of their journey in the quadrennial event. PM Narendra Modi extended his congratulations to the athletes and highlighted the performance of Renuka Singh Thakur, labeling her as an inspiration for young and upcoming cricketers.

“The performance of all the players was excellent. Nobody had the answer against the swing of Renuka Singh Thakur. To be among the top wicket-takers in the Commonwealth Games is no little achievement. Her face has the peace of Shimla and the smile of mountains but her aggression puts the top batters in trouble. Such performance will definitely encourage daughters from distant areas to dream big,” said Modi during his address to the players.

Whatever Renuka has achieved is due to her hard work and love for cricket: Renuka’s mother

Renuka’s mother, a class IV employee in Himachal Pradesh Irrigation and Public health department, was teary-eyed watching the PM praise her daughter for her excellence in the tournament. She credited the hard work of the Indian pacer and love for cricket which has been rewarded handsomely. She recalled the difficulties they had to face after the death of Renuka’s father when she was very young.

“Whatever Renuka has achieved is due to her hard work and love for cricket. My husband died when she was very young, but I made sure that she and her brother did not face any difficulty. To listen to PM Modi praising Renuka today is one of the biggest moments for Renuka and the whole family,” said Sunita, the Indian star’s mother, in an interview with The Indian Express.