Have grown up watching events like these, Harmanpreet Kaur on CWG debut

Women’s
cricket
is
making
its
debut
at
the
Commonwealth
Games.
“This
tournament
is
very
important
for
us.
This
time
we
are
playing
for
a
medal.
If
I
speak
about
myself,
we
have
grown
watching
these
kind
of
tournaments
and
we
are
glad
that
we
are
also
getting
an
opportunity,
we
will
be
part
of
a
big
event.

“I
think
in
the
future,
if
we
keep
getting
these
(kind
of)
opportunities,
it
will
be
great
for
us,”
Harmanpreet
said
at
the
pre-departure
press
conference
here
on
Saturday.
Harmanpreet,
who
has
played
in
the
World
Cups
before,
is
looking
forward
to
a
“different”
experience.

“When
you
were
speaking,
I
actually
felt
that
I
am
walking
on
that
(CWG)
road,
because
that
is
what
we
are
talking
about
and
this
time
we
are
going
to
be
part
of
multi-sporting
event.

“Now
it
is
not
only
about
cricket
but
other
teams
also
and
we
will
be
there
for
them
to
cheer
up
and
we
want
to
celebrate
each
and
every
medal.
This
time
it
will
be
totally
different
and
we
are
all
very
excited,”
she
said.

Each
game
crucial

India
are
clubbed
in
Group
A
alongside
arch-rivals
Pakistan,
Australia
and
Barbados.
They
open
their
campaign
against
Australia
on
July
29.

“Whenever
we
play
against
them
(teams
like
Australia),
they
have
always
given
us
tough
competition.
And
this
time
also,
we
are
looking
very
positive.
Every
game
will
be
crucial
for
us
and
we
will
try
to
give
100
per
cent.”

According
to
Harmanpreet,
it
is
important
to
perform
well
in
big
events.
“Yes,
as
a
cricketer,
we
always
want
that
we
want
to
play
more
cricket
and
this
year
we
are
getting
to
participate
in
a
multi-sport
event.
So,
when
you
go
for
a
big-event
it
is
important
to
perform
well,
the
more
we
get
such
tournaments,
it
is
good
for
women’s
cricket.”

Harmanpreet
said
she
will
think
about
what
approach
the
team
will
take
after
seeing
the
conditions.
The
team
departs
on
Sunday.
“Look,
you
are
speaking
about
targets
(totals),
once
we
reach
England,
then
only
we
can
see.
Right
now
we
don’t
have
any
idea
about
the
wickets.
If
you
talk
about
our
team,
we
always
love
to
play
positive
cricket
and
that
is
what
we
have
been
doing
for
a
long
-time
and
the
approach
will
be
the
same,”
she
added.

Important
to
have
batters
who
can
bowl

“….it
is
very
important,
when
you
have
so
many
(bowling)
options,
the
main
bowlers
do
not
feel
pressure.
And
if
you
have
more
options,
than
you
take
off
pressure
from
the
bowlers,”
she
added.

Head
coach
Ramesh
Powar
wants
team
to
meet
Sindhu
and
Neeraj

“If
there
is
an
opportunity,
we
all
would
like
to
meet
PV
Sindhu
and
Neeraj
Chopra,
because
both
of
them
have
set
the
bar
high.
And
I
would
love
to
go
into
their
minds
and
I
am
curious
about
their
preparations,
because
the
way
they
handle
pressure
of
billion
people,
it
is
commendable,”
Powar
said.

“We
as
a
group
would
like
to
exchange
some
notes
with
these
top-class
athlete.”
the
head
coach
added.

Powar
is
excited
to
be
a
part
of
a
multi-sporting
event.
“This
is
the
first
time
we
are
participating
in
a
tournament
of
this
magnitude.
It
is
a
bigger
platform
for
our
girls
and
a
great
opportunity
to
showcase
talent,
our
game.
We
can
tell
the
world
that
women’s
cricket
can
participate
in
different
kind
of
events.

“We
all
as
cricketers,
myself
watched
Olympics
and
Commonwealth
Games
and
we
see
our
nation’s
flag
flying
high.
It
is
kind
of
opportunity
for
all
of
us
to
showcase
good
performance,
give
our
best
and
make
the
country
proud.”

“Happy
with
the
squad”

Powar
said
the
team
management
was
happy
with
the
squad
chosen
for
the
CWG.
“We
all
get
together
and
we
try
and
pick
the
best
combination,
which
is
suited
for
that
particular
competition.
We
are
happy
with
the
squad,
because
we
were
part
of
the
discussion
and
we
took
this
call
collectively.”