Karan Kewat of Marchbari-2 of Rupandehi was 20 years old. After studying here till class 10, he went to India to learn cricket. After learning cricket there for three years, he came back but his dream of improving the game was not fulfilled.
Where to learn more cricket? When similar questions arose in his mind, a local friend suggested him to join the Ruppandehi Cricket Academy. After that now he is doing cricket training by renting a room in Bhairahawa. He is training at Rupandehi Cricket Academy and said, 'I cook and eat myself, I pay 3000 monthly rent and I am working hard because I see a future in cricket.' He believes that his dream of being able to play at the national level will be fulfilled soon as he is able to learn cricket in a good environment in the district. He accustoms himself to bowling daily at Siddharth Stadium.
Siddharthnagar-13 Sugam Pokharel's ideal player is Sompal Kami. With the goal of becoming like Sompal, 14-year-old Sugam has been practicing at the academy for a year. Sugam said that after Rupandehi District Cricket Association started the academy close to home, it became easier to arrange time to learn and play.
'I used to go far and wide to play,' he said, 'now I am learning close to home, my parents bring me to the academy.' He told me that because of his passion for cricket, he went to Mulpani Stadium in Kathmandu and watched Sompal play. Now he says he is learning to be an all-rounder. .
'We have good facilities in the academy,' he said, 'those who don't have a kit are given training, this is encouraging us to learn.' Taking advantage of this facility, 13-year-old Ikra Khan came to Bhairawa from India. She said that she was learning cricket by staying in a rented room.
"Even though I grew up in India, my parents are Nepali," she said, "I left school to play cricket." Seeing a future in cricket, she said that when there is an academy at the local level, those who are interested in the game like her have a good chance. Cricketers Durga Sen and Man Bahadur Thapa are training the children enrolled in
academy. The trained players have already played junior level tournaments. Coach Thapa says that the players of the academy have played in U-12, U-16, U-19 and some are waiting to join the senior team.
academy has arranged free training to encourage women players. Coach Thapa said that the parents bring the players to the field according to their interests and wishes. According to him, players from Rupandehi, Kapilvastu, West Nawalparasi and Palpa districts are undergoing training.
President of Rupandehi District Cricket Association Hari Thapa said that there are more than 150 trainees in Rupandehi Cricket Academy since last year. The academy built with the help of Lumbini state government, local municipality and professional establishment at a cost of 5 million rupees has 6 cement carpet pitches indoors and 2 grass turf pitches outdoors.
'Two coaches are helping the interest of children towards cricket to become cricketers,' he said, 'We consider Rupandehi to be the hub of cricket, our goal is to make the juniors playing here the national players of tomorrow.'
He says that this cricket ground is considered to be suitable for playing international level games and since there is an initiative to play one-day cricket, it will be a great achievement for the veterans to learn here. There is a plan to make the academy a national model academy.
