Smita Chhetri is the only woman team manager in Asia Cup
BIPIN DANI
Hong Kong is the only team participating in the ongoing Asia Cup in the United Arabs Emirates (UAE) has woman manager. The team is being managed by former cricketer Smita Chhetri. Incidentally, she is managing the media here too.
Speaking exclusively, she said, "Managing men’s national team is one of the best opportunity, which I got from Cricket Hong Kong. So far I do not see much challenge managing them as I have known them for long time and we get along very well. I try to stay strict with them when during match and trainings but otherwise we have fun and pull our legs more".
"I wouldn’t say it’s very easy to manage men’s team but it’s not difficult as well. I am very experienced with high performance logistics behind the scenes and being manager for the same for the first time has been extraordinary experience. Sometimes I fall behind managing time between usual team managers duties and at the same time coordinating with media but I won’t complain because I am having so much fun".
I had played for women’s U19 in 2008 and followed by T20s being a manager and player is totally different. As a player we only had responsibilities to play, eat and have fun. We were very young that time as well. When I look back and compare now, I am very thankful to Cricket HK for amazing opportunity. Its equally fun to travel as a player and manage the team", the 32-yearold Nepal-born Smita signed off.
Later, Ravi Nagdev, the Cricket HK General Manager, speaking from HK, added, "She is a bright, responsible and hard working young woman. I think she has all qualities that it takes to be a team manager. The gender even does not come into the picture".
