Wheelchair cricketers who have an indomitable spirit

LUCKNOW: City lad Somjeet Singh, who had a spinal chord injury since birth, suffered from social anxiety till a few years ago. He had a complex about talking to people and would abstain from attending gatherings. But today, he is a role model for many.

On a wheelchair, he is now the captain of the Indian wheelchair cricket team that will soon represent the country in Bangladesh. In Lucknow on Saturday during wheelchair distribution organised by Round Table India at Sangeet Natak Akademi, he said, “Cricket changed my life. It has given me confidence and has developed my personality.”

Singh feels that cricket

› People think that those who are on a wheelchair need sympathy.But being a part of the cricket team has given us confidence.

AVIRAL JAIN, president, UP Wheelchair Cricket Assn

has been a source of rehabilitation for many wheelchairborne who earlier couldn’t think of being achievers.

Pawan Kumar Mishra, who has polio and is also a part of the wheelchair cricket team said, “People think that those who are on a wheelchair need sympathy and are lesser humans. But being a part of the cricket team has given us confidence and is also changing perceptions about the disabled .”

The UP team has shown exemplary performance in the recent tournaments held across the country. The team also won the national wheelchair cricket tournament hosted in January.

Aviral Jain, president of the UP Wheelchair Cricket Association said, “We have drawn funds to donate wheelchairs to the cricket team. The idea is strengthen the team and also to send a strong message in the society towards the disabled.”