SHREWSBURY – Shrewsbury recently welcomed members of the Indian Men’s Cricket Team for the Blind.
On July 26, the team visited Shrewsbury’s India Center, drawing a crowd of roughly 400 people. The team won the 2024 Samarth Championship for Blind Cricket, 227-137, in March.
“It was phenomenal. Their life stories — how they became blind, how they were neglected, how they focused on being good at the sport. The sport gives them an avenue in life that allows them to focus on what’s going on. Eventually, most of them became players and perfected it. The narration of the stories touched everyone’s hearts,” said Subu Kota, who supported the team’s trip to the U.S.
Blind cricket players use a plastic ball filled with ball bearings that create noise when moved. The players, who have varying degrees of blindness ranging from “partially sighted” to “completely blind,” throw the ball underhand.
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“[The visit] was very, very happy. They were recognized and applauded. Some of the cricketers were sharing their stories – what a difference it has made in their lives, how happy they are now, how capable they feel now, the confidence they have,” said Founder of the Cricket Association for the Blind in India Dr. Mahantesh G. Kivadasannavar.
The visit was part of the team’s U.S. tour, which will continue until Sept. 17 and include trips to New York City, New Jersey, Chicago, Los Angeles and Seattle. The team visited the Carroll Center for the Blind after visiting Shrewsbury.
The tour raised funds for Samarthanam, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that operates worldwide. The group’s U.S. office is located on Route 20 in Northborough.
Started by Kivadasannavar, Samarthanam seeks to create “an inclusive society free from discrimination, where persons with disabilities become contributing members living with dignity and respect,” according to a written statement from the organization.
“I want people to understand how every disabled or differently-abled person is able to reach their goals through sport. That’s why I want to spread the word around here in the U.S.,” said the president of the U.S. branch of Samarthanam Dr. Varavani J. Dwarki.
