In Trinidad and Tobago, where cricket reigns as a national passion, nine-year-old Amara Jasmin Gopichandsingh is redefining what it means to be a young athlete. The Tabaquite Presbyterian School student demonstrates extraordinary balance between academic rigor and athletic pursuit, maintaining straight-A grades while developing into a promising cricket talent under professional guidance.
Gopichandsingh’s cricketing journey began in early childhood as the youngest of five children in a family deeply immersed in the sport. ‘When I was really small growing up, and I went cricket with my dad, the guys on the team would always bowl the ball to me,’ she recalled. ‘There, I realized the love and passion I had for the game.’ Her family’s legacy includes two older brothers who played with South East Trinidad Zone Cricket and represented Powergen at the Under-19 level, plus parents who competed successfully in both windball and hardball leagues nationwide.
The young athlete initially faced challenges entering a male-dominated sport. ‘I felt nervous and shy when I first started training because I was placed in a group with only boys…I would always be the last one to be chosen,’ she confessed. Through determination and skill development, she reversed this dynamic: ‘Until I started to play even better than them, and now, I’m up the line when it’s time to choose.’
Since 2023, Gopichandsingh has trained at the Samuel Badree Cricket Academy at the University of TT Campus in Tarouba, supplementing Saturday sessions with three weekly practices with her father. Former West Indies cricketer Samuel Badree, who oversees her development, praised her attitude: ‘I would describe Amara’s attitude as one of eagerness. She is very enthusiastic, and she comes to every session with a lot of alacrity.’ He highlighted her receptiveness to coaching feedback and willingness to try new techniques as exceptional traits for a young athlete.
Badree’s academy employs a structured development pathway, and Gopichandsingh has progressed from beginner to intermediate levels where she now practices advanced skills and drills. The program ultimately leads to hardball cricket and high-performance training for exceptional talents.
Academic excellence remains equally prioritized through careful scheduling managed by her mother, Ameela Hosein. ‘She manages school and cricket by following her schedule and always being focused,’ Hosein noted. ‘She is not an average nine-year-old — she knows her goals, and she is determined to push herself to one day achieve all of them.’
Beyond cricket, Gopichandsingh enjoys reading, family time, and creative writing, excelling particularly in Mathematics and English. Her aspirations include attending Naparima Girls’ College, representing Trinidad and Tobago nationally, and eventually playing for the West Indies women’s team. She also envisions becoming a teacher to share knowledge with future generations.
To other girls considering cricket, she offers simple advice: ‘Always believe in yourselves, be confident and do not be afraid to try.’
