Agartala: Nov 07. Assam and the entire Northeast witnessed a proud moment as Uma Chetry, the region’s rising cricket star, returned home after scripting history in world cricket. Chetry, hailing from Bokakhat, was part of the Indian women’s team that lifted the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025, defeating South Africa by 52 runs in a thrilling final on November 2.
Her homecoming, however, stirred mixed emotions. While fans, local officials, and well-wishers greeted her with warmth and tears of joy, Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi expressed disappointment over what he called the Assam government’s “failure to officially honour a historic achievement.”
In a social media post, Gogoi praised Uma for taking Assam and the Northeast to the national and global stage in sports, noting that even senior players like Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur had lauded her talent and discipline. “It’s disheartening that Uma returned to Guwahati Airport to a modest welcome by media personnel, airport officials, and members of Gorkha associations, instead of a grand state reception,” he wrote, calling it an “opportunity lost” for the state government. He also criticised Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for “saying childish things in Jharkhand” instead of celebrating women achievers in sports. Gogoi, however, urged Uma to “keep working hard” and added, “Assam is proud of you.”
Chetry, visibly emotional upon arrival, said, “Every cricketer dreams of playing for Team India and winning the World Cup. Seeing that dream come true for my family and me feels incredible.” She shared that the most touching moment was when her mother held her medal for the first time.
Uma’s journey from the tea gardens of Bokakhat to the world stage stands as a story of resilience and inspiration for countless aspiring athletes across the Northeast.
