Twenty20 'girl child' match: No winners, no losers

New Delhi, Dec 3 (UNI) Once again the Modern School Grounds left a mark in the hearts of many, as a special Twenty20 cricket match was held where players came to play cricket but made a lasting difference by their commitment and efforts for a noble cause here.

The 8th CRY (Child Rights&You) Cadence Corporate Cricket Challenge (5Cs) on part of their two-month long challenge of spreading the message ''eliminate discrimination not the girl child'' yesterday held a friendly match, involving people from all walks of life to bat, ball and cheer.

The match saw participation of people from various sectors showing their interest to make a healthy society by eradicating problems like the child rights issue especially the 'girl child'.

Magsaysay award winner Kiran Bedi, who was present as the Chief Guest, at the event congratulated and saluted CRY for its initiative and said,'' some work for a cause with money, time, efforts, knowledge, skills and I have devoted my Sunday time for them. But if we pull these components together from every corner of the country, then I see no end for CRY.

''If we believe that ocean is full of drops of water, then we should believe that each child is like an individual sapling of a big tree(banyan). So, we need to take good care of each saplings.

And compared to a boy, a girl sapling is more vulnerable and it needs more care,'' Dr Bedi told UNI.

When asked about devoting her time for society, she added ''I have already devoted my time for the country's children as 10,000 of such needy children are getting education in Navjyoti and India Vision Foundation. And now when I will have more time in my hand, I can devote more to the society for its development and for the future of our country (children), and join hands with larger partners like CRY for bigger causes.'' The spirit behind the 5Cs is about creating awareness and sensitising people on child rights in the country. In the capital only, it has united 48 teams on a pitch. The 5Cs endeavours to eliminate discrimination towards the girl child, ensuring that she enjoys equal rights to live, learn, play, follow her dreams of a happy childhood and secure future.

Talking about uniting corporates on a pitch, Managing director of Cadence Jaswinder Ahuja told UNI, ''there has been no other medium to unite people from every sections of society for a cause else than Cricket. It was a small project we started with CRY to spread awareness about the severe problems in our society and now its a huge one; over 100 teams are uniting on a pitch in Chandigarh, Bangalore, London and here itself.

''Issues like child rights are very severe, because children are our future. And magnitude of this problems is very big, so we need to make an active effort to save our society, '' Mr Ahuja stressed, adding that we are living in a interdependent society, so every problem is our problem and we should care for things we need to care about.

The teams participating were Buddies XI (comprising men cricketers and 5Cs' sponsors) and Womens XI (comprising women cricketers from varied walks of life) which includes Cadence, GE, ABN Amro, Tricolite, Oberoi, D Link, Emedlife, Apara, DSCL, Maitri College, Delhi University and many others.

The ladies team, which played a wonderful innings with 120 runs for 4 wickets was left behind by the Buddies XI 4 wickets just in 17 overs.

Appreciating efforts and contributions of the participants, Dr Bedi handed over the certificates to them adding that no one won and no one lost because this match was for a motive. ''Our motive is achieved and we have succeeded, so congratulations to all.'' UNI