New Training Program for Visually Impaired Women Cricketers Launched in Delhi

On Tuesday, a new training program for visually impaired women and girls was launched in Delhi. This initiative, called ‘Training in Blind Cricket for Visually Impaired Girls and Women in Delhi,’ is a collaboration between the Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled, Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI), and Cricket Association for the Blind in Delhi (CABD). The program aims to train 50 visually impaired girls and women in cricket over three months.

The Australian High Commission in New Delhi is a key supporter of this project. The program not only focuses on cricket coaching but also provides vocational training to enhance digital and financial literacy, including soft skills, computer skills, and life skills.

Inauguration Ceremony

The inauguration ceremony was attended by several notable figures, including Australia’s High Commissioner to India, Philip Green OAM, Former Minister of State for External Affairs and Culture, Government of India, Meenakshi Lekhi, Trustee of Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled and CABI President Busa Gowda, and CABD President Yogesh Taneja.

Busa Gowda expressed gratitude to the Australian High Commission for their continuous support in promoting women’s cricket for the blind. He emphasized that the coaching camps mark the beginning of a new journey for the players, helping the State Board identify and nurture emerging talents. He also mentioned the upcoming maiden tour of the Indian Men’s Cricket Team for the Blind to the USA in late July, which will help them prepare for the T20 World Cup in November 2024.

Key Speeches

Yogesh Taneja highlighted the various activities organized by CABD in collaboration with Samarthanam and CABI. Meenakshi Lekhi spoke about the importance of resilience, reflection, and relationships (RRR) for long-term success and growth. She praised the participants for their remarkable performances and emphasized the importance of nurturing relationships and supporting each other’s growth.

Philip Green, the Australian High Commissioner to India, expressed his pride in supporting the initiative. He highlighted the shared love for cricket between Australia and India and emphasized the importance of making the game accessible for people with disabilities, particularly women and girls.

Project Goals

The project aims to empower visually impaired and blind women through disability sports. It seeks to build confidence and independence among the trainees, allowing them to interact with people from various cultural backgrounds and promoting social inclusion through blind cricket.