| 1. Sonia Mendhiya is a talented Indian cricketer who was part of the victorious ICC Under-19 Indian Women’s team during the T20 World Cup in South Africa in 2023. |
| 2. She hails from a Dalit family and tragically lost her father at the tender age of four, leading her mother to work at an anganwadi, earning Rs. 2500 to support Sonia and her siblings. |
| 3. Growing up, Sonia accompanied her mother to the anganwadi, where she enjoyed playing with plastic balls with the children and later played with a wooden thapi with her friends. |
| 4. Despite initial resistance from her mother when expressing her desire to pursue cricket, Sonia's unwavering passion for the sport ultimately won her family and neighbors' encouragement and support. |
| 5. At the age of thirteen, Sonia embarked on her cricket journey and enrolled in the Shri Ram Academy on Jhajjar Road, Rohtak to hone her skills. |
| 6. In an interview, Sonia's mother recounted her daughter's dedication, mentioning how Sonia traveled solo on a rickshaw for 20-25 kilometers from their village to the academy. Her mother expressed pride in Sonia's achievements and aspirations for her to continue representing India on the cricket field. |
| 7. Sonia showcased her talent in various tournaments, delivering impressive performances such as scoring significant runs and taking wickets in the U-19 One Day Trophy, U-19 T20 Trophy, U-19 Challenger Trophy, Quadrangular series, and the New Zealand Development tour. |
| 8. Selected for the U-19 women’s squad, Sonia played a key role in the T20 World Cup in South Africa in 2023, fueled by her admiration for cricketer Rishabh Pant and sporting a tattoo of the word 'mom' on her right hand. |
| 9. Sonia showcased her talent in various tournaments, delivering impressive performances such as scoring 260 runs and taking 8 wickets in the U-19 One Day Trophy, scoring 187 runs and picking up 8 wickets in the U-19 T20 Trophy, scoring 92 runs and 5 wickets in the U-19 Challenger Trophy, scoring 67 runs and 4 wickets in the Quadrangular series, and scoring 65 runs and 2 wickets in the New Zealand Development tour. |
