Inter-state Wheelchair Cricket Tournament culminates with workshop on leadership and capacity building

Chandigarh, October 23, 2017: The three-day inter- state wheelchair Cricket tournament organized for persons with physical disabilities (PwDs) culminated with a workshop on leadership and capacity building on peace and development through sports held at the campus of Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Youth Development (RGNIYD). The tournament was facilitated by the Association of Professional Social Workers and Development Practitioners (APSWDP) in association with RGNIYD. The Deputy Commissioner, Chandigarh Ajit Balaji Joshi who was the chief guest on the occasion distributed certificates and medals to each participants. He appreciated the efforts of the organizers and encourages the participants who displayed extra ordinary skills during the matches.
The event organized between 21st and 23rd October 2017 saw participation from 55 players from Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. The participants also endorsed the cleanliness drive being carried out by Panchand Society and they will spread the message of keeping their environment clean. The United Nations convention on the rights of PwDs calls upon Governments and other stakeholders to ensure that people with disabilities have access to sport and recreational venues — as spectators and as active participants. While earlier people on wheelchairs have participated in sports like rugby, basketball and baseball in several parts of the country, this is the first time they have come together to play the most popular sport of the Indian subcontinent – cricket.
The workshop allowed participants and the organizers to share their learnings from the event and discuss the importance of such initiatives in in transforming the mind-set of common people towards specially abled people. This discussion focused on how such inclusive events can result into psycho-social development of PwDs and their integration into mainstream society.
Speaking about the initiative, Rekha Trivedi, Convener of APSWDP,said, “Persons with disabilities often face societal barriers and disability evokes negative perceptions and discrimination. As a result, persons with disabilities are generally excluded from education, employment and community life, which deprives them of opportunities essential to their social development, health and well-being. This initiative aims to be a unique step towards building a more inclusive societal order.”
The cricket match saw enthusiastic participation from all the players. The team representing the state of Punjab was declared as the winner of the cricket match.