The excitement is palpable as 20 visually impaired cricketers – in totally blind, partially blind and partially sighted categories – play a 10-over cricket match at Hyderabad Public School, Begumpet in Hyderabad. The cricket match organised by the city-based NGO, Spurthi Vision Care Society, had two teams with 10 players each. The match was played between Devnar Sr and Devnar Jr from the Devnar School for the Blind. Amidst cheers by 100 guests including volunteers, the Devnar Jr team won the match scoring 130 runs against Devnar Sr who scored 111 runs.
Looking fragile yet cheerful among the audience was Spurthi’s founder Pushpa Venugopal aka granny. Overwhelmed with emotions, the 85-year-old said “This might be the last Fair Play cricket match that I am organising. My age doesn’t permit me to plan such matches in future.” Cheering loud among the audience was Sampath Shankar and his team of volunteers who played an active role in planning for this cricket match — from designing and printing banners, certificates to sharing write-up... this group has been leading from the front.
