Jaipur: “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 Dimple Kanwar after receiving the Sunder Kanti Joshi (SKJ) state women’s cricket award here on Friday.All-rounder Dimple was adjudged as the best player in the senior category for her outstanding show in the just 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,” added Dimple on the sidelines of the seventh SKJ Awards, organised by Radha Niwas Cricket Club on the birth anniversary of Sundar Kanti Joshi. Tanika Sharma received the honour in the junior group, while Rochelle Yadav was chosen in the sub-junior section. Former cricketer Asha Srivastava-Dutta, who represented Rajasthan in the 1970s, was the recipient of the ‘lifetime achievement award’.Sandeep Bhatnagar, chief general manager of SBI Jaipur Circle was the chief guest, while Bharat Vyas, additional solicitor general, presided over the function.Sydney 2000 Olympian Paramjeet Choudhary and Rajasthan Ranji Trophy stalwart Aniket Choudhary were the special guests on the occasion.Host club president and Ranji cricketer Vipin Joshi and Rajasthan’s only Guru Vashisht awardee cricket coach Ashok Joshi presented mementos to the guests.Club secretary Sharad Joshi said that in the senior category, the award winner Dimple Kanwar was given a cash prize of Rs 21,000 along with a memento, a certificate, a cricket kit and a travel kit, while in the junior category, Tanika Sharma was awarded Rs 15,000 and in the sub-junior category, Rochelle Yadav was awarded Rs 11,000 in cash and a certificate, a cricket kit and a travel kit. Dimple Kanwar performed brilliantly in BCCI national competitions, scoring 430 runs, taking 6 wickets and 16 catches.In the junior category, Tanika Sharma impressed the selectors by scoring 235 runs and taking 9 wickets, while in the sub-junior category, Rochelle Yadav won the award by scoring 172 runs and taking 9 wickets.Speaking at the event, Sandeep Bhatnagar, Chief General Manager of SBI Jaipur Circle, stressed the need for greater encouragement for women in sports. He said that women are not lagging behind in any field. The country’s women’s cricket team recently proved this by winning the World Cup.Bharat Vyas, while reminiscing about Rajasthan cricket, praised the Joshi family for initiating the SKG Awards to encourage women cricketers. Olympian Paramjeet Choudhary, recounting her journey from Bikaner to the Sydney Olympics, said that this initiative by the Joshi family will inspire girls to pursue sports.Rajasthan’s experienced Ranji Trophy fast bowler Aniket Choudhary congratulated all the awardees and wished them a bright future in their career.Several former Rajasthan cricket players including Vinod Mathur, Sanjay Vyas, Rohit Jhalani, Mohd Aslam, Vilas Joshi and others were present on the occasion.
