In a remarkable display of talent and determination, four young women from Punjab have played pivotal roles in India’s triumphant run to a silver medal at the Baseball Federation of Asia (BFA) IV Women’s Asian Baseball Cup 2025 Qualifier in Bangkok, Thailand. Their outstanding contributions not only helped secure India’s place on the podium but also punched the team’s ticket to next October’s prestigious Asian Cup in China.
Hailing from Ludhiana, Moga and Muktsar districts, the quartet—Harwinder Kaur and Navdeep Kaur (both Ludhiana), Manveer Kaur (Moga) and Ramandeep Kaur (Muktsar)—each brought their A-game to an intensely fought tournament featuring eight national teams. India opened with a commanding 12–4 victory over Sri Lanka, edged rivals Pakistan 2–1, and then stunned Iran 13–0. A thrilling 6–5 semi-final win against hosts Thailand set up a nail-biting final against Indonesia, which ended 5–4 in the visitors’ favour.
“Seeing four players from our state make up nearly half of India’s nine-member squad and clinch silver on foreign soil fills us with immense pride,” said Er Harbir Singh Gill, Secretary of the Punjab Baseball Association. All four athletes are National Gold Medalists from last year’s Senior National Championship, a pedigree that earned them places at an elite training camp in Sangrur. There, under the guidance of both domestic and international coaches, they honed the skills that would serve them so well in Bangkok.
Gill revealed that the two Ludhiana natives first discovered baseball at the Government Senior Secondary School in Gill village, a training centre established by the state association. “Their journey from grassroots coaching in Punjab to the international arena is a testament to their hard work and the supporting infrastructure we’re building,” he added.
With their silver-medal finish, the Indian women’s team has secured qualification for the Asian Cup in China this October. Preparations are already underway, and all signs point to the Punjab quartet earning places in the final roster. “Given their stellar performances in Thailand and their strong track record at national level, I’d say there’s a 99 percent chance they’ll be part of the squad in China,” Gill noted.
As these young athletes continue their rigorous training, their breakthrough on the Asian stage offers fresh inspiration for baseball aspirants across Punjab—and cements the state’s growing reputation as a cradle of women’s baseball talent.
