“November 9 was the happiest day in my life when I saw my son receiving the Man of the Match award (sixth ODI vs Lanka at Rajkot),” says Rudra Pratap Singh’s father Shiv Prasad Singh, who works at IIT (Rae Bareli unit) as tool and die maker.It was a great achievement by Rudra Pratap Singh as mostly batsmen clinch the man of the match awards in the ODI series, says Shiv Prasad. Walking down memory lane, Rudra Pratap Singh’s father Shiv Prasad Singh said, earlier he was not too interested in bringing him in the sporting circuit. “But after seeing his enthusiasm, I was compelled to enroll him at the Guru Govind Singh Sports College about six years back. “When I was returning to Rae Bareli after admitting RP at the Sports College, my neighbours and other family members warned me ’your son would get spoiled as there is no one to look after him’”, says the proud mother Girja Singh. “They said most students get spoiled at such places. These statements sent shock waves down our spine, but we had full confidence on Rudra Pratap and decided to allow him to complete his term at the sports college.”“Results started coming in from the first year itself, when he got a chance to represent the U-19 state team. Then only we thought our son is on the right track”, the beaming father adds.Though RP’s two sisters, Deepa and Akshansha are tired of receiving the stream of guests who are coming in to congratulate them, they are not complaining. The happiness is writ large on their faces.Speaking to The Indian Express on telephone from Vadodara, RP Singh says: “Hard work, discipline and honesty of effort are the key to my success”. An inmate of the Lucknow’s Gomti Nagar hostel, RP, said unlike other games, cricket demanded immense physical endurance and stamina, coupled with hard work. “My parents too, played a vital role in my success today and I give all the credit to my family members”. According to him, the family’s support is very important for the success of any player. RP said the county has immense sporting talent. “All that we have to do is to brush up their skills and see that their talent gets seen at the national level.”Giving tips to the upcoming cricketers, especially the ones who are at present training at the Gomtinagar Sports Hostel, RP says: “We simply have to put the ball at the right place with a proper line and length.”After completing his four-year tenure at the Guru Gobind Singh sports College, Rudra Pratap Singh joined the Gomti Nagar Hostel in 2004. Singh is the third player from Uttar Pradesh who was selected for the Border-Gavaskar Scholarship. Earlier, Mohammed Kaif and Suresh Raina took part in the camp. Last season RP took 71 wickets, which included 34 wickets in Ranji Trophy matches. He claimed 34 wickets in just six matches.
