Post # 1
Blind boy wields willow of glory
KORAPUT: Sixteen-year-old Sukhram Majhi, a Class X student of the School for the Blind in Koraput, has brought glory for his school and the district by making it into the national cricket team for the blind.

"I am extremely happy at being included in the national cricket team for the blind. It was a dream come true for me. I express my gratitude to my coach for his timely guidance and advice," said an elated Sukhram, a tribal boy of Sukriguda village under Umri panchayat in the district. "I also thank my mother for encouraging me to join school because of which today I am in the national team and all set to travel abroad," he added. Sukhram's mother, who is also blind, was deserted by her husband and ekes out a living as a daily labourer.

Sukhram, who is an all-rounder, will be traveling with the national team to Pakistan to play at least five T20 matches and an equal number of one-day internationals in November, before taking part in the world cup, comprising seven countries, in England in February 2012. Sukhram, who is 40% blind, was included in the cricket team under the B-3 category for his brilliant performance in the national tournament, held at Mysore by the Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI) during the last week of September. Representing the East Zone, he scored 86 not out, 53 and 29 not out against South Zone, West Zone and North Zone respectively at the national tournaments.

"Sukhram is a right-handed batsman and bowls well. He also took at least three wickets at the national tournament," said his coach, Chandra Sekhar Patnaik, who is also the coach of the national team. Sukhram is one of the three blind students of the state to be a part of the national team. The other two are Pankaj Bhue of Bargarh and M J Iqbal of Bhubaneswar.

According to Patnaik, Sukhram joined the school in 2000, but it was only in 2005 that his interest in cricket came to light. However, he showed more seriousness towards the sport only when a student of the school made it to the national team in 2006.

"In 2006 a student of our school was selected in the national team to participate in the world cup, which was held in South Africa. His selection inspired Sukhram. Since then he has played several matches and has won several matches for us in tournaments held across the state," Patnaik said.
Post # 2
RE: Blind boy wields willow of glory

Quick Reply

You must login to post reply.