From child marriage victim to national level player: Anusha narrates her journey

A minor girl, who was rescued by the Rachakonda Police and Balalu Hakkula Sangham from child marriage in April 2017, narrated her journey towards becoming National level cricket and Rugby player. B. Anusha, who was also felicitated by Commissioner Rachakonda for standing out in sports, told ANI, 'I was in 10th standard when my family informed me that they are going to perform my marriage rituals due to family problems and I agreed. But ten days before my marriage, the Child Help Line and police rescued me and sheltered me in a hostel'.

She added that after returning home, she joined a junior college in Hyderabad's Saroor Nagar where she is a first year student. 'I started taking training from 9th standard and I was later selected in the cricket team and I played for Under-19 nationals in Indore. Currently, I am playing Rugby for the national team. I feel very happy and would like to play for international as well,' Anusha further said. The girl had excelled at National level cricket tournament and will now play for the Under-19 Rugby game that is to be held at Lal Bahadur Shastri Stadium in Hyderabad, in the next couple of days.

She had showcased an all-round performance during the Under-19 cricket match held in Madhya Pradesh recently. As per the Child Marriage Prohibition Act of 2006, marriage of a girl aged under 18 and of a boy aged under 21 is punishable by two years of imprisonment and a fine of Rs 11 lakh.

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