By IANS
Bhopal : Ajitesh Argal, a member of the Under-19 cricket World Cup winning team, was accorded a grand welcome in his hometown here Sunday afternoon.
Argal was adjudged `man of the match’ in the rain-curtailed final against South Africa. He said: “I owe my success to my first guru (coach) who taught me never to lose confidence.”
Cricket lovers gathered at the airport to have a glimpse of the young player. He was felicitated at several places in the city, including at the Central Press Club and Kayasth Mahasabha.
He told media persons that he always remained in touch with his first coach Suresh Chanani who taught him to “always play the natural game with confidence”. “After winning the World Cup, I talked to him over phone from Malaysia,” he said.
He said that though the Malaysian tour has been a great learning experience for him, his target was to play in the senior team and win World Cup for the country once again. “Each match taught us some lessons. The one against the West Indies was very tough and we learnt a lot,” he said.
The young cricketer, whose parents are settled in Bhopal, went to Vadodara nearly five years ago to learn cricket.
He played a pivotal role in India’s victory in the World Cup. In his five-over spell Argal gave only seven runs and took two wickets.
Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced a reward of Rs.500,000 to Ajitesh Argal. “Ajitesh showed his talent and skill in the game. He has emerged as a better bowler in the World Cup cricket. He has brought laurels not only for his family but also for Bhopal, state and the country,” Chouhan said in a statement.