His parents are fighting cancer. But Kavya chases his dreams on cricket field

Kavya Konar's fight against odds is inspirational (representational image)

Kolkata, December 18: Kavya Konar - one in a million kids across the country who wants to make it big in cricket. But he's different.

His 31-ball 85 for Burdwan district in the CAB inter-district tournament against South Kolkata underlined the 16-year-old's talent. But Kavya has a bigger battle to win off the field.

His parents - Subrata and Shaswati - has been suffering from cancer. Subrata is under the grip of this disease for the last seven years and his mother was diagnosed with throat cancer three years ago.

"Initially it was painful for me to go through the situation. They (his parents) used to go to Mumbai often for treatment. So, I lived in my home with my grandfather, grandmother and my elder brother.

"Still I used to crack mentally thinking thought about my parents' disease. But as I have grown up I have been able to adjust with the whole situation better," said Kavya, who was adjudged player of the tournament in the inter-district tourney for scoring 173 runs.

His parents often visited the Tata Memorial Cancer Research hospital for treatment and stayed there for months together.

"We never thought of our fate. Rather we always involved ourselves in several social work efforts. We know we will have to fight till the last ball of this game. Now, our only wish is to see Kavya establishing himself as a cricketer representing Bengal and India," said Subrata.

It hasn't been easy for the Konars. The family has to spent nearly Rs 40 lakh for the treatment of Subrata and Shaswati - a major portion of the income from Subrata's medicine distribution business and Shaswati's job as a school teacher.

But that has not prevented them from allowing his son chasing his dreams on a cricket field.

"I love watching Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohali and MS Dhoni. They inspire me to improve my cricket. But my parents are my ultimate strength and inspiration. If they can fight against such a dreadful disease then I will also be able to establish myself as cricketer," Kavya said.