Salesman's daughter in Indian squad

PUNE: The news of Kolhapur lass Anuja Patil's selection in the Indian team for the ICC Women's World T20 tournament reaffirmed her family's faith in relentless hard work, grit and determination.
"If you have talent and determination, nobody can stop you. There is no replacement for talent and hard work. These are the virtues, which will take you to the heights.It is difficult to prove yourself without any short cuts, godfathers and money power, but not impossible" these were the sentiments of Anuja's family members living in a two room dingy house in Rajarampuri area of Kolhapur.
A daughter of a lower middle class wafers salesmen in Kolhapur city of south Maharashtra; Anuja has come a long way to get place in the Indian squad. Her father and uncle are cricket fans and when Anuja, as a child asked for a bat and ball instead of a doll, her family members were taken aback. "
Since childhood she played cricket. People used to say that there was something wrong with this girl and she was not normal. Many asked why she was playing men's games?" said her family members. However her father and mother fully supported her love for cricket and encouraged her. There were times when the family compromised on meeting their daily needs and collected money to support her.
Anuja recalled that a couple of years ago she was out of form and was thrown out of the under 19 squad. Those were difficult times; she says adding that in normal circumstances the parents would suggest that girls should return to normal domestic chores. But in Anuja's case, the family stood firmly with her.
Anjua will be member of a 14-member Indian team in the ICC Women's World T20 tournament to be held in Sri Lanka from September 26 to October 7. The All-India Selection Committee (women) picked the squad. India, which is placed in Group A along with England, Australia and Pakistan, will play the Kangaroos in their opening encounter on September 27.