DILI, TIMOR-LESTE — Today, Sunday, June 21, 2026, the Timor-Leste Cricket Board (TLCB) celebrated a major milestone for women’s sports. The board hosted the grand finale of a week-long cricket festival right here in the capital city of Dili.
This event was part of a global celebration. All around the world, cricket boards joined the International Cricket Council (ICC) to honor female athletes. The TLCB spent the entire week traveling to different towns and villages across Timor-Leste to introduce the game. Today, those efforts ended with a massive and joyful gathering in Dili.
A Historic Celebration of Women’s Cricket Week
The highlight of the day was the incredible turnout. A huge crowd of women and young girls completely filled the sports grounds in Dili. It was one of the largest gatherings of female athletes the country has ever seen.
From young primary school students to older teenagers, hundreds of passionate players came together. The atmosphere was filled with non-stop cheering, laughter, and a strong sense of community.
Fun and Active Cricket Training
To help everyone learn the sport, TLCB coaches and trainers turned the festival into a fun academy. The participants were divided into different groups depending on their experience:
- The Batting Zone: Brand-new players learned how to hold the bat properly, stand correctly, and hit the ball.
- The Bowling Station: Trainers taught the basic steps of overarm bowling, focusing on how to throw straight and hit the wickets.
- Agility Drills: Fast and exciting catching games helped the girls improve their reflexes and teamwork.
After practicing these skills, the players formed teams and played short, high-energy matches against each other.
Building a Strong Future for Girls in Sport
By joining this global ICC event, the Timor-Leste Cricket Board is opening new doors for women and girls in sports. School teachers and community leaders attended the event to show their support, praising the board for giving young women a safe and encouraging place to stay healthy and active.
“We spent the whole week traveling to different spots, but seeing this massive crowd of girls playing cricket together in Dili today is amazing,” a senior TLCB official said at the closing ceremony. “Today proves that women’s cricket has a bright future in Timor-Leste. We will keep supporting these players by creating new school leagues and regular training programs.”
As this global week comes to a close, the Timor-Leste Cricket Board is proud of the momentum they have built and is ready to help the next generation of female cricket heroes grow.
