As ‘Harman puttar’ brings home ICC Women’s World Cup trophy, quaint town Moga basks in her glory

The force behind Harmanpreet was her father Harmandar Singh Bhullar, a sports enthusiast who otherwise worked at the Moga district court as a clerk for living. Locals remember how little Harmanpreet would accompany her father to the grounds of Guru Nanak College and play cricket and football with boys.

It was on one such day that her first coach and mentor Kamaldeesh Singh Sodhi, noticed her and offered free cricket coaching at his private school, and the rest became history.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Bhullar: “The entire world was watching my daughter. We are over the moon that she is now a world champion.”

Bhullar, who also played basketball and handball at state-level, said: “Harman used to accompany me to the grounds when I played football and other sports. I have always loved sports. When my both daughters were born, I never thought of them any lesser than sons. Waheguru hasn’t taught us to differentiate between sons and daughters. Harman developed interest in cricket and we never stopped her. My only appeal to the people is “kudiyaan nu kukh vich na maaro, uddan do” (Don’t kill your daughters in the womb, let them fly).”

Harmanpreet doing bhangra before lifting the trophy. (Express photo)

Harmanpreet is the eldest of three siblings, her younger sister Hemjeet Kaur is settled in Canada and brother Gurjinder is in Australia.

Around eight years ago, Moga woke up to a new dawn of unexpected fame when Harmanpreet made headlines by scoring 171 runs against Australia in the semifinal of the ICC Women’s World Cup 2017 in England. In Moga, the remarkable cricketing feat of a woman was unheard of. Even as India lost the World Cup in 2017 to England, the town had lined up in huge numbers to welcome home their daughter Harman.

Embracing Punjabi roots

On Sunday, as Harmanpreet, now 36, scripted history and stepped on the stage to receive the World Cup trophy from ICC chairman Jay Shah at Navi Mumbai stadium, she embraced her Punjabi roots and flaunted some bhangra moves. Later in an interview with veteran cricketer Anjum Chopra, she candidly admitted, “Punjabi more comfortable.. angreji mainu jyada aundi ni. (I am more comfortable speaking Punjabi. I don’t know much English).”

Harmanpreet also remembered her days of struggle in Moga. In a post-match press conference, she said, “(Veteran cricketers) Jhulan Goswami and Anjum Chopra were my biggest supporters when I was very raw and had just entered the national team. I knew nothing. I used to play with boys when a school principal noticed me..”

Thanking God for her success, she said, “Waheguru da shukrana”, and later grooved to the song: “O billo tere yaar di chadhai ni, oh badeyaan ton jari nahi jaandi hai (Many could not digest your friend’s success and fame).”

Locals in Moga celebrating the win. (Express photo)

Moga too celebrated with dhol beats, crackers and sweets. Barjinder Singh Brar, a SAD leader from Moga, said, “It is a matter of immense pride for the entire Moga that our daughter has scripted history. She is now among winning captains who have won the ODI World Cup for the country (Kapil Dev and MS Dhoni). She is going to inspire millions of young girls, and especially those in Moga to dream big.”

AAP’s Moga MLA Amandeep Kaur Arora said, “She has proved that daughters are never a burden but the crowns of our head.”

Gurparvesh Singh Sangha, a local resident, added that Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann and PM Narendra Modi should ensure that a new stadium comes up in Moga where young players can practise.

“Have seen her struggle”

Local residents in Moga said that they witnessed her struggle, from playing football and cricket with boys in the grounds of local Guru Nanak College to being the captain of the national women’s cricket team.

“Whatever she has achieved, hasn’t come to her in an hour, a day or even a year. When she was very young, she used to accompany her father to the grounds of Guru Nanak College where she played football with boys. Later, she started playing cricket with boys as no one used to send their daughters to play outside but Harmanpreet and her family shattered this glass ceiling. I had told his father that she will make it really big one day,” said a local resident.

Sodhi, her mentor and owner of Gian Jyoti School and cricket academy at Darapur village of Moga, convinced Harmanpreet’s father to train with him after noticing her while playing with boys. He said, “She would say that she doesn’t want to go to class but just play cricket the whole day. For me, her every win has been special. I know she will never forget me or her first academy where she would hit such long sixes that balls would sink in water-filled paddy fields, never to be found. For me, she will always be my Harman puttar.”

Sodhi’s son Yadwinder Singh, who also coached Harmanpreet for years, says, “With Harmanpreet lifting the World Cup trophy today, not just hers but our dream has also been fulfilled. Those who play cricket know that the ultimate goal is always to win a World Cup. It’s history and a milestone for women’s cricket in India.”

Urging people not to discriminate between sons and daughters, Sodhi says, “Waddi bhull hai.. (It’s a big mistake). Never discriminate between daughters and sons. There was a time when people said Harman trained in our school but today our school is known by her name. Even Guru Nanak said, ‘So kyun manda aakhiye, jit jamme rajaan (Why call the women who gave birth to kings bad)’.”

Meanwhile, for Moga, the celebrations have just begun, thanks to their puttar (son) Harmanpreet “Kaur”.