Physically-challenged cricketers need financial stability and support from the government. “We need grounds, facilities that are easily accessible for players and request corporate companies to come forward to help such cricketers,” said Manish Patel, President of Wheelchair Cricket Federation India. Patel was in Vadodara to witness the Sardar Patel National Wheelchair Cricket Championship organized at SRP ground in Lalbaug.
The Wheelchair Cricket Championship aims to achieve devoted and active social change agents to differently-abled individuals by empowerment and enrichment through athletics.
Teams from eight states consisting of Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat are playing this National Wheelchair Cricket Championship played for the first time in Gujarat. It is a knockout tournament; the finalists will play on 14th November. Apart from the winner and runner-up, the best bowler, fielder, batsman, man of the match, and man of the series will also get felicitated.
“We started this championship in 2011 with corporate companies and slowly reached this stage. It has been a tough job to prepare for the championship involving around 120 players from eight states across the nation. The aim is to help the players in the form of financial stability,” said Manish Patel.
After being elected as President of Wheelchair Cricket Federation India, Manish Patel is now planning to have their first ground and cricket academy in Vadodara. He will also approach the Sports Authority of India (SAI), Paralympic association, and CSR committee to expand the facilities and resources for physically-challenged cricketers like ground and easy accessibility. Patel focused on more matches to increase awareness about wheelchair cricket and support from corporate companies besides the government.
Written by:
Shristi Chatterjee
