That’s a Six!

The second-year student of journalism from Bangalore had an active sports stint in school and looks up to her new job that binds her in a one-year contract. “I look at the cheerleader’s job as something that would add colour to the event and keep the sportsmen in high spirits,” she says,adding that far from opposing,her family and friends gave her immense support till she won her place.

“I might go on to be a sports journalist or run a business,but this experience of being a cheergirl I would always cherish,” she chirps.

Shahrukh Khan’s Kolkata Knight Riders has got its six tasselled cheerleaders to dance to every cover drive and maiden over at the IPL matches in South Africa. Their first stop will be Cape Town on April 19 to cheer their team playing against Deccan Chargers,but the girls are not so charged up about the sudden African safari.

“I wish the matches were held in India as the crowd here is so encouraging. Now,we will to try to create a similar atmosphere in South Africa,” says Ritika,who has earlier cheered at the ICL matches. Kolkata-based Ananya laughs when told that she was perceived to be the judge Sourav Ganguly’s favourite at the reality show Knights and Angels: “It’s just that we have a Bengali bond as I belong to Kolkata.”

And if there are critics out there harping about dancing maidens at a gentleman’s game,these six are not willing to listen.

“It’s a respected profession in America and I hope it becomes one in India too,” says Sana from Nagpur. “Cheerleading is a form of sport and I think it should be encouraged as a career option in India,” agrees Rupali.

The employment exchange can take note.