New Cricket Training Programme for Visually Impaired Women Kicks Off in Delhi

A new training programme for visually impaired women and girls was launched in Delhi on Tuesday. The initiative aims to train 50 participants in cricket over three months. The launch event took place at the Constitution Club of India, attended by Philip Green OAM, Australia's High Commissioner to India, Meenakshi Lekhi, Former Minister of State for External Affairs and Culture, and Yogesh Taneja, President of the Cricket Association for the Blind in Delhi.

The programme is a collaboration between the Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled, the Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI), and the Cricket Association for the Blind in Delhi (CABD). It focuses on coaching blind cricket and providing vocational training to enhance digital and financial literacy. "The programme includes soft skills, computer skills, and life skills," said Yogesh Taneja.

Challenges in Training Visually Impaired Athletes

Shikha Shetty, a coach involved in the programme, highlighted the difficulties faced while training visually impaired athletes. "Since 2019, I have been training blind kids. The most difficult part is persuading families from lower backgrounds to allow their girls to come to the field," she said. Shetty added that convincing families to send their daughters outside the city is often challenging.

Another coach mentioned that people often sympathise with visually impaired individuals but what they need is motivation. "They have grown up in this condition and possess a heightened sense compared to others," she said. Training them takes extra time due to their challenges, but with practice, they learn to overcome difficulties like not seeing the direction of the ball being thrown.

Personal Stories of Participants

Shemoo Das, a 22-year-old visually impaired cricket player from Assam, shared her journey. "I started playing cricket two years ago in 2022, and last year I participated in international matches. I have played with Nepal twice," she said. Recalling her early days, Das mentioned how she used to fill water bottles with marbles to hear where the ball was coming from. Her mother supported her through everything despite having an elder brother who is blind and cannot speak.

Esther, an 18-year-old player from Andhra Pradesh, also shared her experience. "My family has supported me a lot. My brother inspired me to play cricket and asked me to start practising in seventh grade," she said. Esther has played with Nepal twice and reached the semi-finals as well.

Support from Officials

During the ceremony, Philip Green expressed his support for the initiative. "The Australian Government believes in supporting all people to fulfil their potential and is committed to advancing gender equality and the rights of people with disabilities," he said. Green also mentioned his pleasure in working with Indian cricket partners to promote sports as a means to create a safe and empowering space for women and girls.

Meenakshi Lekhi emphasised resilience, reflection, and relationships (RRR) as key factors for long-term success. Reflecting on India's recent triumph in the 2024 T20 World Cup, she praised the participants for their resilience and celebrated their performances as a testament to their inner strength.

The Indian women's blind cricket team achieved significant success by winning the gold medal at the IBSA World Games on August 26 last year. They defeated Australia in the finals by 9 wickets, showcasing their remarkable talent and determination.

The new training programme aims not only to enhance cricket skills but also to provide vocational training that will help participants gain digital and financial literacy. This holistic approach aims to empower visually impaired women and girls by equipping them with essential life skills alongside sports training.

The initiative represents a significant step towards inclusivity in sports and vocational training for visually impaired women and girls in India. By focusing on both physical training and skill development, it aims to create opportunities for these individuals to thrive both on and off the field.