Panjim: As a prelude to the Purple Fest, India’s one-of-a-kind, inclusive festival that embraces and celebrates Persons with Disabilities (PwD), an Interstate Blind Cricket Tournament was organised by Office of the State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, Goa and Directorate of Social Welfare, Goa in association with Goa Cricket Association and Blind Cricket Association of Goa. The event was inaugurated by the Minister of Social Welfare, Subhash Phal Dessai and State Commissioner of Persons with Disabilities, Guruprasad Pawaskar . Inspector General of Police, Omvir Singh Bishnoi, IPS, graced the inaugural. Also present for the launch were Co-ordinator, Dr. Ketan Bhatikar, member, Blind Cricket Association, Yashwant Naik, and member of Goa Cricket Association, Aditya Angle.
The Interstate Blind Cricket tournament witnessed a total of six teams participating including Goa, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Kerala, Pondicherry and Telangana. The first match was played between Goa and Chhattisgarh. The 20 over match with the basic rules of cricket will be played by four completely blind players, three who can see up to a distance of 2mts and four with 6mts vision.
On the occasion, Member, GCA Aditya Angle said, “We all co-exist, and make up for an entire society. No one wants sympathy, but empathy is what we need to make this world a beautiful place to live in,” he added.
Inspector General of Police, Omvir Singh Bishnoi expressed happiness over the unique event. “We should highlight this unique festival. All Indians must come together to facilitate the youngsters and welcome them to play in the beautiful land of Goa.”
The follow-up matches will be held at Dharbandoda and the final match will be played at the GCA ground on January 8.
