Star Indian women’s cricketer Smriti Mandhana and music composer Palash Munchal were set to tie the knot in Sangli on Sunday, but their wedding has been put on hold indefinitely due to her father Shrinivas’ illness in the run-up.
Mandhana has a strong emotional bond with her father, who has consistently encouraged her throughout her cricket career.
The World Cup-winning cricket player’s father experienced the health issue early on Sunday morning, according to Mandhana’s manager Tuhin Mishra.
“Smriti’s father, Mr. Shrinivas Mandhana was having breakfast this morning, and his health started deteriorating. We waited thinking he would recover soon, but it didn’t improve.
“So we thought not to take any risk and called an ambulance, and he has been taken to the hospital. He is under observation,” a PTI report quoted Mishra as saying.
Mandhana chose to delay her wedding until her father recovered, according to Mishra.
“Smriti is very close to her father. So, she has decided to postpone the marriage, which was going to happen today, till her father is fine.
“The doctor has said he (Mandhana’s father) will have to be in the hospital for the time being. We are also in shock and hope that he recovers quickly because it’s a big occasion for everyone,” he added.
“So, Smriti is very clear, she wants her father to be okay first, and later she will get married. I would request you to respect the family’s privacy at this time,” said Mishra.
A medical team is keeping an eye on Mandhana’s father’s health, according to her family physician, Dr. Naman Shah.
“At around 1.30 pm, Mr Srinivas Mandhana got left-sided chest pain, we call it ‘angina’ in medical term. As the symptoms surfaced, his son called me, we sent ambulance, he was shifted to hospital. We found out in ECG, other reports, that cardiac enzymes are elevated, hence we need to keep him in observation,” a PTI report quoted Shah as saying.
“Blood Pressure is also elevated, efforts are on to lower it. The whole team is monitoring. If situation exacerbates, we will have to do angiography. Smriti and her family is in contact with us, hopefully he will be stable by tomorrow.”
In Sangli, her hometown in Maharashtra, a week-long celebration had already begun in advance of the eagerly awaited marriage ceremony.
