Cricket has been a huge male stronghold for a long time and women have been quietly, if not openly disheartened. But times are changing, and great strides are being made in the sport, particularly with regard to women. Recently the Indian women’s team created history by reaching ICC Women’s T20 World Cup finals.
Another cricket team leading the transition is the Karnataka Women’s Blind Cricket Team that was established in association with Australia to support Samarthanam Trust For The Disabled in Bengaluru, supporting this initiative.
Financial Help From Australia To Benefit Karnataka Specially Abled Team:
The Karnataka Women’s Blind Cricket Team will get access to quality coaching and training under the grant of Rs. 8 lakh, which will allow players to represent India on an international level. The women are also trained in skills like spoken English, self-defense and computer literacy.
The Fund Would Empower Aspiring Blind Women Cricketers In India:
Women are most oppressed, and people with disabilities and blindness are further oppressed, according to Mahantesh G K, founding and managing trustee of Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled. The needs are rarely discussed or considered. In 2010 Samarthanam took over responsibility for the management of blind cricket and formed a separate body named CABI — Cricket Association for the Blind in India. He also said that the girls are working very hard and are putting in all the efforts they can.
“You can see the spirit, the enthusiasm, the excitement they have, the energy they have. They’re very strong. I think this strongness is because of bearing the Delhi winter and fighting it and the way they are shouting and coordinating, I think it’s amazing. So I think it’s important for us to address their needs, gender equality; what we talk, I think we have to follow that,” Mahantesh G K told a leading sports website.
There are three types of players in Blind cricket terminology. B2 players are partially blind, up to 3 m vision, while B3 players are partially sighted and up to 6 m viewable. Teams in categories B1 are entirely visually impaired.
