SHOPIAN DECEMBER 03: A fascinating ten overs cricket match marked the celebration of International Day of Persons with Disabilities. The match was organised by District Social Welfare Office at sports stadium Batapora and two cricket teams of Persons with Disabilities participated in the event.
The participating teams included Team A (Apple Town Shopian) captained by Mr. Khurshid Ahmad Najar and Team B (Disabled Cricket Team Shopian) captained by Mr. Sayar Ahmad Paul.
The teams were provided with 2 cricket kits, uniforms and other necessary gears for playing the match.
Chasing a target of 89 runs set by Team A in 10 overs, Team B got all out for just 61 runs. Mr. Sayar Ahmad Malla was adjudged as man of the match for scoring 47 runs and taking two crucial wickets.
Interacting with players and media persons, the DSWO Mohammad Shafait said the IDPWD is observed across the globe on 3rd of December every year to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilize support for the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities.
He said organising a cricket match on IDPWD has been done on a purpose. The celebration is linked with spreading awareness about drug abuse and Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation Program (SVEEP). He called upon them to value their vote by exercising their right to vote in ongoing DDC/Panchayat/Municipal elections. He also impressed upon them not to give in to drug abuse because of social stigma associated with disabilities and they should adopt a healthy life style.
While thanking Social Welfare Department for organising cricket match a participant said, “We weren’t practising for quite a long time due to obvious reasons. Participating in this game has come as moral booster for the players and it provided required threshold to practice regularly for upcoming tournaments at State/National Level. Many of us have already played at State/National Level and we will give our best to bring laurels for the district”.
On the sidelines of the cricket match, a camp for distribution of prosthetic aids was also organised. A total of 3 hearing aids and 1 tricycle were provided to the identified beneficiaries belonging to BPL families.
Present on the occasion were AD Handloom & Handicraft Ashfaq Choudhary, TSWO Farhana Tak, Abid Saqi (Commentator), entire team of Social Welfare Shopian and Person with Disabilities drawn from across the district for enjoying the game.
