A Harrow cricket team has emerged as the winner of the 2023 London Youth Games indoor boys finals cricket competition, held at the MCC Indoor Cricket Academy at Lords Cricket Ground.
The nine-strong squad of boys aged 10-13 won all four matches played on the day, beating their competition from other London boroughs, including Ealing, to scoop the gold medal prize. The team was presented with the trophy and medals by the Mayor of Harrow, Cllr Janet Mote.
The London Youth Games is an annual multi-sport event in which young people from different London boroughs compete against each other in a variety of sports. The games provide young people with an opportunity to represent their boroughs and showcase their sporting talents on a regional level.
The Games feature a wide range of sports, including athletics, basketball, cricket, football, gymnastics, swimming, and tennis, among others. The event attracts participants from primary, secondary, and special schools, as well as youth clubs and community groups.
The victory for Harrow is a remarkable achievement for the young cricketers and their coaches, according to Councillor Jean Lammiman, Cabinet member for Community and Culture, who said, “They show how important sport is in the development of young people, setting them on a good track to become positive young adults contributing to society in Harrow, which is one of our key aims.”
Team Harrow qualified for the finals in January, following a series of trials in November 2022. From 80 hopefuls from local schools and clubs, who either live or go to school in Harrow, the squad was narrowed down to 12 boys by the new year, and only nine were allowed to participate in both the qualifiers and finals event.
Team Manager Raj Kanagaraj and his coaching staff were responsible for identifying the talent and selecting the squad to make them train together and play as a team. He thanked all the players involved, the parents for their support, and his coaching staff.
Mayor Janet Mote, who was invited to the event, gave out the prizes and said, “It was such an amazing day topped off by a Harrow win. I am so proud of my Young Harrow Cricketers!” The victory not only highlights the potential of the young Harrow cricketers but also demonstrates the importance of sports in developing young people.
