Kathmandu, Jul 24: Last Friday, the Asia Cup Women’s Cricket match between Nepal and UAE took place at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium in Sri Lanka. The game, which started at 2:15 PM Nepali time, saw Khadka from Bajhang shine as she played an exceptional innings, winning the hearts of Nepali cricket fans.

In Jaipruthvi Municipality-9, Bajhang, Khadka’s parents were unaware of their daughter’s on-field heroics. Her father, Devendra Bahadur, and mother, Kalidevi, were busy with their daily work near Khadka Lake. They knew their daughter played cricket and had a match the next day, but they had no details about the time or where to watch it. They went about their routine, while Khadka’s brothers managed to watch the game at the Jaya Prithvi Municipal Hall.

“We went to the lake because sitting at home all day doing nothing wasn’t an option, and we had no means to watch the game,” said Devendra. It was only after receiving a phone call about Khadka’s outstanding performance that they watched clips of her match on their mobile phone. Although not well-versed in cricket, her parents were overjoyed to hear about her achievements.

The Khadka family, which initially pressured her to pursue a job, is now proud of her success in sports. “We wanted Anami to get a job after completing her studies. She quit her job and started playing cricket, which was hard for us to understand at the time. Now, seeing others talk about her, we feel immense pride,” said Devendra.

Khadka’s remarkable 72 runs off 45 balls, including 11 fours, led Nepal to victory against UAE, earning her the Player of the Match title. Her exceptional performance brought her into the limelight, giving many who didn’t know her a chance to recognize her talent. Her early trainers, Surendra Singh and Pravind Dhami, who introduced her to cricket 13 years ago using sock balls due to a lack of proper equipment, were also praised.

Navin Khadka, her brother, highlighted her journey from a teenage cricketer to a national star. With no playgrounds available, Khadka and her peers practiced at a closed airport. Within six months of learning the game, Dhami and Singh appointed her as the captain of Bajhang’s women’s team, leading them to regional games in Dhangadhi, Mahendranagar, Baitadi, and other places.

Dhami recalled the initial lack of understanding about the importance of sports. “Family members often discouraged girls from playing. Now, they see the value and are proud of her achievements,” he said.

Khadka has been playing for the national team for two years, yet her parents have never watched her live on television due to limited access. “We don’t have the channels on our home TV or mobile. We learn about her performance from others,” said Devendra. Despite this, the Khadka family is content with her progress and takes pride in her accomplishments, regardless of where her cricket journey takes her.