By Florine Roche

Karwar, Jul 20: For Dixita Sangekar, a 17 year hold teenager hailing from Karwar city, the news of her being in the first round list of selection for Women’s under-19 cricket is in itself is like a dream coming true. So what, many may argue. But for Dixita and for the people of Karwar, this first round selection in itself is a big achievement considering her background and the lack of facilities available for any budding cricketer. Dixita hails from fishermen community and the family depends on fishing for their livelihood. She is fluent only in her mother tongue Konkani like most people of Karwar.

For Dixita this selection means a vindication of the trials, tribulations, abuses, insults and innuendos she had to face from the general public during all these years when she played gully cricket in the small by lanes behind the temple of Nandangadha in Karwar, with her cousin brothers and neighborhood boys. Her eyes well up with tears when she says “I was called by all names and some even called me hijda because I was playing with the boys. Even my mother wanted me to do household work and mop the floor than play cricket as that is expected of girls of my age. Even my friends suggested I opt for a sport played by women. I feel that many people did not know even women play cricket and they found it deplorable to accept my playing the game”. 

Somehow, Dixita could withstand all these abuses and insults only because she loved playing cricket and is passionate about the game. Her grit and determination has helped her go a step further from playing gully cricket and show her talent on a bigger stage. She is now preparing for the second round of selection scheduled to be held in Bengaluru in October this year. “If I am selected I will get an opportunity to play in Ranji matches” she says with gleam in her eyes. Dixita is an all-rounder and with only one place for an all-rounder in the team. Dixita knows the competition will be quite tough. Nevertheless, she feels she has the game to make it to the team in the second round.

Dixita was always interested in sports. That her brother played cricket at state level clubs, helped her to gain initial knowledge and insight into the game. “I used to ask him the difference between playing with a rubber ball and tennis ball and then about the other aspects of playing different shots. My brother supported me fully. But sadly he could not go to next level due to financial constraints as my father could not afford”, she declares.

Now she is happy because her mother is supporting her and is not asking her to do household work. “My parents were happy when my name appeared in newspapers. Even my mother repented for scolding me earlier. I am happy for my family and for Karwar because it has brought name for this small city,”

Dixita was passionate about playing cricket and even bunked classes to play only to be scolded. Her father had encouraged her but was advised to balance her studies and her passion. But she could not resist the temptation of playing cricket even if that meant giving a miss to classes. Dixita and other boys used to play in teams of 4 or 5 members and sometimes they were betting on a meager amount of Rs 20.

It was just by fluke that Dixita got the opportunity she never dreamt of. She had joined NCC at the college and during a medical camp for NCC at the Karwar Naval Base she was spotted playing with her friend Akash Naik using the stick of the mop as bat and the ball of the fishing net during free time. Former army officer Vinod Patil from Anand’s Cricket Academy, Belagavi, who saw her playing, asked her whether she was interested in joining the Academy to hone her playing skills. Dixita lost no opportunity and convinced her parents and she went to Belagavi as the Academy admitted her with concessional fees. Even at the academy she was the only girl and hence got opportunity to practice and play only with the boys.

Joining the Academy gave Dixita the much needed exposure including playing at the Club level and an opportunity to play in Nepal. She even played for the Vijayapura Bagalkote League and her performance came in for much appreciation. The exposure proved to be a morale booster and proved to be the catalyst in her selection for the under-19 women’s first round selection.

Dixita has now left for Bijapur to prepare for her selection in October. She is focused and determined to sail through the first round in her quest to play for the state and then for the country.