“Had Goosebumps When Neeraj Chopra Won It”- Smriti Mandhana Wants To Win Gold At Commonwealth Games 2022

India women’s team vice-captain Smriti Mandhana said that the team is gunning for the gold stating that she had goosebumps watching Neeraj Chopra wear the gold medal, standing at the Tokyo Olympics podium with the national anthem playing at the stadium, and wants to experience the same thing.

Cricket will make a return to Commonwealth Games for the first time since 1998, but with women, cricketers showcasing their might at the Birmingham Games in 2022.

The India women’s team vice-captain now wants to experience the feeling of the national anthem playing while the entire team stands at the podium at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

“I had literally got goosebumps when Neeraj Chopra got it (gold medal) in Olympics, so we have an opportunity to be there and triumph. I don’t think we’ll just look for a podium finish because when the flag goes higher and the national anthem plays, it’s the best feeling,” the 26-year-old said in a press conference ahead of the team’s departure to Birmingham for the Games.

The stylish southpaw batter is imagining India doing the same in their first Commonwealth Games.

She added, “We haven’t had experience of playing CWG, where we will be striving to get a gold medal because we always have imagined us lifting the trophy and trying to put us on the podium where we lift the trophy. Now we have to imagine going on the podium and getting a medal. It’s something very new.”

Last time cricket was played at the CWG was in 1998 in Malaysia when men’s cricketers participated South Africa won the gold, defeating Australia in the finals. For India, the likes of Ajay Jadeja, Sachin Tendulkar, and Mohammed Azharuddin played in the participating team.

I Would Just Like To Have Conversations With Different Athletes: Smriti Mandhana

Talking about being excited to mingle with other athletes at the Games’ village, Smriti Mandhana spoke about talking with other players about their diet and training regime.

She said: “It is something very new for me and also the team. We’ve never experienced going out and playing a tournament where other sports are also involved. I don’t have anyone in particular but I would just like to have conversations with different athletes, knowing what kind of training they do and all of that stuff. We did that a little when we did a show in the lockdown and we got a lot of takeaways. Meeting them in person would be amazing. Trying to know their game, share the experiences, I think that would be amazing.”

India has been placed in Group A with Australia, Pakistan and Barbados. The Girls in Blue will play their first match against Australia on Jul 29 and then will face Pakistan on July 31.

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