Those born earliest Viv Anderson born 1956 Ian Wright born 1963 November 3rd John Barnes born 1963 November 7th Des Waler born 1965 Paul Ince born 1967 David James born 1970 Sol Campbell born 1974 Emile Heskey born 1978 January 11th Rio Ferdinand born 1978 November 7th Ashley Cole born 1980 10 of England’s former black footballers

I have put together some information about some Asian British Sports personalities -there is an emphasis on cricket. Adil Rashid is an English cricketer who plays for Yorkshire and England as a leg spinner. He was part of the England squad that won the 2019 Cricket World Cup. His England captain,Eoin Morgan, regards him as a strong asset. He belongs to the Mirpuri community. Isa Guha is former England cricketer. She is now a cricket commentator,television and radio broadcaster. A member of the winning 2009 World Cup for women. She played for Thames Valley and Berkshire Manish Tailor is the founder of Swaggarlicious- founded in 2011 - which uses the power of football and education to engage with diverse community groups and organisations with mental illness. Her inspiration is her twin brother, who aged 18 had serious mental problems.A former headteacher she has received many awards for her contribution to community and sport. Moeen Ali is a former English international cricketer and captain- retired September 2021. He is a left handed batsman but a right-arm off- spinner. Represented England in all the formats. A member of the England’s 2019 winning squad. Former Warwickshire player now plays for Worcestershire. Monty Panesar is a former English international cricketer. He was a slow left-arm orthodox spinner. He made his debut in 2006. He was not a regular member of the team - Graeme Swann replaced him. He played for several different counties Naomi Dilip Dattani is an English professional cricketer who plays for and captains Middlesex Women and also plays for Sunrises and London Spirit. She is an all-rounder- she bats left handed and bowls left-arm medium. In 2020 she was one of 25 players awarded regional retainer contracts by the England and Wales Cricket Board. Nasser Hussain is a former England captain (1999-2003) and regarded as one of England’s most able captains. He played 96 test matches and 88 One day international games. He was a right handed batsman who scored over 30,000 in his career. He is now a commentator. Ruqsana Begum is a female professional kickboxer and boxer. She was a British and World Kickboxing Association Atomweight MuayThai boxing champion and captain of the British Muay Thai team. In 2018 she switched to boxing. Salma Bi is a former cricketer, who bowled off-spin and played for Worcestershire, Northampton and MCC. Today she runs a range of cricket schemes and sessions for girls and was rewared with an BEM in the new Year Honours list. Samera Ashraf is a police constable in Scotland and has a blue belt in karate and kickboxing. She hopes to inspire women to join Police Scotland. Sheneela Ahmed is a Criminal Lawyer Advocate and a Lawyer Football Agent. In 2014 she was crowned with Asian Woman Achievement Award 2014. She is also a Women of the Future (WOFT) Ambassador and received HSBC top 50 Women Global Award, Sonia Odedra is an Eglish cricketer who plays for Nottinghamshire, Lig

Mildred ‘Babe’ Didrikson was born in Port Arthur, Texas. Her parents were immigrants from Norway. She was the sixth of seven children. The family moved to 850 Doucette in Beaumont, Texas aged 4. Her mother called her ‘Bebe’ from a toddler. She was nicknamed Babe - after Babe Ruth - when she scored 5 home runs in a chidlhood baseball game. She left school without graduating and went on to become an American athlete who excelled in golf, basketball, baseball, plus track and field. At the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics she set 4 world records. 80 metres hurdles -11.7 Javelin 43.69 metres - the first woman Olympic champion high jump 1.657 metres then 1,67 (same height as Jean Shiley who got the gold because Mildred used an improper technique). (Apparently she also twice broke the long jump record but the judges ruled them as fouls.) Mildred is the only athlete, male or female, to win individual Olympic medals in separate running, throwing and jumping events. In 1934 she tried Baseball . Mildred is still recognized as the world record holder for the farthest baseball thrown by a woman. She then became America’s first female golf celebrity and was the leading player of the 1940s and early 1950s. As an amateur and professional she won many golf tournaments. Serious illness ended her golfing career in the mid 1950s. Mildred was indeed a very talented sports woman. Sources Wikipedia Amazing Athletes by Jean-Michal Billioud