{
  "id": 15159552,
  "title": "UAE spin star Suraksha Kotte on World Cup dream and playing on to honour her late father",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/uae-spin-star-suraksha-kotte-on-world-cup-dream-and-playing-on-to-15159552",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-17T08:25:23.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The National Business",
    "slug": "the-national-business",
    "url": "https://www.thenationalnews.com/sport/cricket/2026/10/17/uae-spin-star-suraksha-kotte-on-world-cup-dream-and-playing-on-to-honour-her-late-father/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Suraksha Kotte, a key player for the UAE women's cricket team, expressed her pride and motivation in an interview, reflecting on her journey and the inspiration behind her continued passion for the sport. The UAE team, currently competing in the DP World Women's Asia Cup 2026, narrowly missed advancing to the knockout stage after a thrilling run chase against Bangladesh. Suraksha bowled exceptionally well, taking 3-11 in just four overs, showcasing her talent and dedication. Despite falling short in the match, her performance highlighted the UAE team's growing stature in women's cricket. The match was significant for the UAE, as it marked their first major win against Bangladesh, a team they had previously struggled against. Suraksha, now 23, credits her late father, Sudheer, for her enduring love for cricket. Her father, who passed away in March 2021, was a constant presence in her early cricket career, encouraging her to practice and supporting her every step of the way. Suraksha's father's pride in her achievements, especially her international debut, was immense. She fondly remembers her father's excitement upon hearing about her international career. Despite the challenges her family faced, Suraksha has thrived both academically and professionally, working as an associate project manager for Oracle and her brother Suraj works for Nissan. The UAE women's team, bound by a strong bond and shared dreams, are determined to qualify for the World Cup. Suraksha emphasizes the importance of playing against top teams more frequently to enhance their skills and exposure, aiming to achieve more than they currently envision.",
  "summary": "When the UAE women’s team were on the brink of their finest win to date, at the start of last month, their outstanding player might have been thinking to herself: “I’m glad I stuck with this.” And, perhaps, how proud her dad might have been. The national team had Bangladesh pinned down in the Women’s Asia Cup at Dubai International Stadium. They needed to win to advance to the knockout stage of…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The National UAE",
        "title": "UAE spin star Suraksha Kotte on World Cup dream and playing on to honour her late father",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/uae-spin-star-suraksha-kotte-on-world-cup-dream-and-playing-on-to",
        "published": "2026-10-17T08:25:23.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}