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While struggling, these players made themselves so strong that today they are playing for the country. Today the picture behind their courage and enthusiasm is dark. Some players had to drive an e-rickshaw and some had even decided to commit suicide. He listened to the taunts no less. In time, he trained himself in the fire of hard work to fight the challenges and became successful.
Now all these players are part of the National Wheelchair Cricket Tournament.
Players sweated a lot during the practice session at Chaugan Stadium in Jaipur.
1. Dharamveer Pal: I haven't been able to walk properly since I was 8 years old. Dharamveer Pal, resident of Pipsya, Madhya Pradesh, said- I was 8 years old. I got fever. It was found out that I was suffering from polio. From then till now I have not been able to stand properly on my feet. Since childhood, I have been passionate about watching and playing cricket.
Dharamveer is among the top players of the Indian wheel chair cricket team.
In the year 2004, there was a match between India and Sri Lanka in Mohali. When I went to watch the match, an official there sent me to the boundary line. After this I started going to Team India's matches continuously. Where I got recognized as a ball bye.
I started going not only in India but also around the world during the matches with Team India. Where I started having good conversations with Indian players also.
My cricket journey started from the year 2006. I travel across the country and the world to watch Team India's matches. Whenever I was not there to watch the match, the players of Team India would ask about me. Many times, when I was not present in the match, Team India would lose the match.
Due to this, Indian players started calling me 'Lucky Charm'. Team India players Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh and Sreesanth had clearly told me about this that you were not there, that is why we lost the match. You must come next time. You are our 'lucky charm'.
Arrangements for my stay and transportation are made with the help of Team India players. Many times I have shared flights and buses with Team India. Wherever Team India stays, I also stay in the same hotel. It is a matter of good fortune for me.
From Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Virender Sehwag, Mahendra Singh Dhoni to Virat Kohli, all the players of Team India love me very much. They call me the twelfth man (12th player) of Team India. This honor is very big for me.
A test match was going on between Team India and New Zealand in Ahmedabad. Then Mahendra Singh Dhoni decided to play football with Team India. I was also on the ground at that time. Mahi Bhai made me a goalkeeper.
When I stopped the goal during the match, Mahi Bhai and all the players of Team India fell on me. It was a memorable moment which I will never forget.
Dharamveer has also participated in net practice sessions with Mahendra Singh Dhoni several times.
Dharamveer told – In childhood, when I used to go to any relative's house, they used to think that I have come to eat fokat (free) food. They looked at me with inferiority complex. Many times he would also taunt. But I tried to move forward in life, learning from the same taunts and negativity.
The result of that is that the people who used to taunt, now call home. Not only me, he treats my family also very well and respectfully.
A wheelchair cricket tournament is a very different experience. Here you have to do batting, fielding and bowling while sitting on a wheelchair. It looks easy, but is very difficult. Because of being physically disabled, we are not treated equally.
Our economic condition is also not very good. This is not only my condition but also of most of the physically disabled players. We are all walking these difficult paths. I believe that we will be successful only if we move forward from these difficulties.
2. Raja Babu Sharma: Lost leg in train accident Raja Babu Sharma, resident of Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, says- When I was 7 years old, I lost one leg in a train accident. After this, when I went to school, the children around me started teasing me. I left studies.
Gradually my inclination started increasing towards cricket. Along with playing cricket, I also did the work of distributing newspapers. Gave trials in Uttar Pradesh Disabled Cricket Association in the year 2013. I got selected. My news started getting published in the newspaper which I used to distribute to the people.
I got married. The financial condition of the family is still not good.
Raja Babu Sharma is currently working as an attendant at a cyber cafe.
My performance was good in the matches played in the Disabled Cricket Tournament. Within a few days I received many awards. In the year 2017, I was also honored by Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi.
After this, in the year 2018, a businessman from Noida gave me an e-rickshaw as a reward for playing good cricket. I started supporting my family by driving this e-rickshaw. Before the Corona period, I was running my household by earning Rs 1000 every day by driving an e-rickshaw.
The situation completely worsened after Corona. It became difficult for me to even manage two meals a day for my family. After this I decided to get a job at a cyber café. I still work here today.
In the initial days, Raja Babu Sharma supported his family by driving an e-rickshaw. This business was also lost in Corona.
In the year 2021, I got a chance to play in the wheelchair cricket tournament. Since then I have been playing continuously for Uttar Pradesh. Also playing for the country at the international level. Currently, I am a member of the Uttar Pradesh Wheel Chair Cricket Team as well as the Indian National Wheel Chair Cricket Team.
Still my financial condition is not good. Because we are not getting any kind of help at the government level. However, the Board of Control for Cricket in India is deliberating on providing facilities to disabled cricketers and wheel chair cricketers like other players.
In such a situation, now I just want that the wheelchair cricket tournament should also be recognized in the Paralympic Games, where players like us can win medals for India. Now this is my last dream.
3. Kabir Singh: Had made up my mind to commit suicide Kabir Singh, a resident of Madhya Pradesh, said- In my childhood, I came to know about my being disabled. From then onwards life was surrounded by difficulties. There came a time in 2013 when I decided to commit suicide.
Everything went haywire in life. There was not a single hope left in life. Family and friends supported me. I took courage and played for Madhya Pradesh at the state and national level. Appeal Share Playing cricket at the international level for Team India.
Troubled by financial constraints, Kabir Singh had decided to commit suicide.
Where earlier my relatives and acquaintances used to keep distance from me, today the situation has completely changed. I want wheelchair cricket to also be included in the Paralympic Games.
Where we represent India and win the gold medal. For a disabled person, every day from birth to death is full of difficulties. Everything from his walking till his going to the washroom is not normal.
Ignoring all these problems, many disabled people have moved ahead today. Today we have become recognized as wheelchair cricketers across the country. This is a big thing for us.
4. Jandel Singh Dhakad: Not getting help from government Jandel Singh Dhakad, a member of the Madhya Pradesh wheelchair cricket team, said – When I was born, relatives had asked my parents that how would his life continue? it is no use. Will remain a burden on the family. Today the situation has changed.
Now people have started recognizing us as disabled players. Still, we are not getting as much help from the government as we should.
Jandel Singh is now engaged in uniting disabled players across the country.
In such a situation, we are fighting to provide all possible help and facilities to disabled cricketers. Had a meeting with ICC Chairman Jai Shah. We have also demanded from them to organize the Disabled Cricket World Cup. We hope that they will take a good decision for the disabled players around the world and include them in ICC like other players.
5. Bharat Panwar: Before becoming a cricketer, he became a junior accountant. Bharat Panwar, resident of Pali district of Rajasthan, said- I was two-three years old. Had problem in legs. At that time I had received the wrong vaccine. Due to this I became a victim of polio. Has not been able to walk properly since childhood. The family made every possible effort for treatment.
I started walking with the help of my knees. Till today I have not been able to stand properly on my feet.
Bharat Panwar of Pali is working as a junior accountant in the Electricity Department of Rajasthan.
Within some time I had understood that now life has to be lived like this. I wanted to live with dignity. So I concentrated on studies and started preparing to become a chartered accountant.
I had also passed the IPCC exam. Then a vacancy came up for Junior Accountant in the Electricity Department and I passed. Today I am working as a junior accountant in the Electricity Department of Rajasthan.
Along with cricket, Bharat Panwar has also won medals with his brilliant performance in sports like swimming and weight lifting.
Like every youth of India, I also had great interest and attachment towards cricket. I first tried playing cricket with ordinary youth. But I could not play cricket properly with those people.
After this I decided to play cricket with disabled players. Within a short time, I joined the wheel chair cricket team of Rajasthan. We also won many tournaments.
Para athletes get a lot of facilities in Rajasthan, so I decided to take up weight-lifting in athletics. Gradually I also won many medals at state and national level. My shoulder had started getting injured. Then I decided to leave weight lifting and take up swimming.
After this won three national medals in swimming. Along with this, I have also been the captain of Rajasthan team in wheelchair cricket. Due to my performance in the last few years, I was also included in the wheelchair India cricket team.
Graphics Source: NavJivanIndia | VaskarAssets
