“The better we perform, the more they will understand that there should not be this difference between men and women in the field of sports,” says Jemimah Rodrigues, the 17-year-old women’s U-19 Mumbai cricket team captain who scored an unbeaten 202 against Saurashtra on November 5, 2017.
Jemimah is the second woman under 19 in India to smash a double ton after Smriti Mandhana, who scored an unbeaten 224 against Gujarat in 150 balls last year. She was first selected for Mumbai U-19 team at the age of 13.
Jemimah started playing cricket at the age of 4 when she was residing in Bhandup, 25 km away from her practice destination in Bandra. She also speaks about the problems she faced as a child where she was, at one time, not even allowed to practice at a club as she is a girl and even the long commutate which was not convenient.
All the sacrifices she has made have paid off and she is on her way to join the National Cricket Team someday.
According to Jemimah, there is a lot of discrimination between men and women in sports in India but after reaching the finals in ICC Women's World Cup 2017, things are changing and the public has started paying more attention to women as well.
Rodrigues is a state level hockey player also and has represented Mumbai U-19 as well. "Since I have reached a higher level in cricket than hockey, I play cricket more often. I love hockey."
Rodrigues has a message to convey to her fellow teenagers. Watch this video to know about the journey of India’s new Mithali Raj, Jemimah Rodrigues.
Video Editor: Kammaljiit S Kainth
(Breathe In, Breathe Out: Are you finding it tough to breathe polluted air? Join hands with FIT in partnership with #MyRightToBreathe to find a solution to pollution. Send in your suggestions to fit@thequint.com or WhatsApp @ +919999008335)
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)