'Chak de': Nizamabad farmer's 11YO daughter makes India proud, becomes 'World's Best Softball Player'
In the event that took place from 7-11 December in Taiwan, there were players from five different countries and Likhitha was chosen as the best player among them.
By Nimisha S Pradeep Published on 16 Dec 2022 11:56 AM IST
Likhitha Dayyala and her friends used to watch with awe every time an airplane whizzed past the sky. Likhitha always wondered when she would get a chance to fly but never thought the opportunity would come so soon.
The 11-year-old was selected to represent India in World Softball Championship. Not only her dream of flying came true, but she also brought laurels to the country.
Hailing from Telangana's Nizamabad district, she won the title of the 'World's Best Softball Player' in the Under-12 World Cup organized by the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC).
In the event that took place from 7-11 December in Taiwan, there were players from five different countries and Likhitha was chosen as the best player among them. Along with this feat, she has also been chosen as a part of the world softball team. The team consists of 16 players from different countries.
Likhitha Dayyapally
"I am so happy about this achievement. All credits go to the training that I have been receiving for the past one and a half years at the Softball academy in Nizamabad. Every day, the training goes on for 6 hours- We train 3 hours in the morning and 3 hours in the evening," says Likhitha, a student of class 6 at TSWREIS Suddapally, located in Dichpally block in Nizamabad.
For Likhitha, this was her first international game and she narrates how nervous she was when she first saw her opponents. But she says hard work always pays off and the same has happened in her case as well.
Likhitha's parents, who are farmers in Nizamabad, are proud of their daughter. Likhitha adds how supportive they have been at every stage of her coaching. Along with her parents, she also remembers the support rendered by her softball coach B Monika, and Latha, her physical education teacher at school. To her, K Shobhan Babu, former softball player and general secretary of the Telangana Softball Association has always been her greatest inspiration.
"There are so many struggles in the game but I will never give up," says Likhitha.
She says that her biggest dream is to represent India at the Olympics and win laurels for the country.
Besides softball, Likhitha also plays baseball and athletics.
