KOLKATA, Dec 23:
The 4th IDCA Test National Cricket Championship for the Deaf, hosted by the Bengal Cricket Association of the Deaf (BCAD), concluded at Kolkata’s Merlin Rise Cricket Ground, with the Jammu and Kashmir Deaf cricket team being crowned the champions, while the Delhi Deaf cricket team finished as the runners-up.
The Indian Deaf Cricket Association (IDCA), supported by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and recognized by the Deaf International Cricket Council and Asian Deaf Cricket Association, had kicked off the championship on December 18, with the semifinals being played between Delhi Deaf and Bengal Deaf, and Odisha Deaf and Jammu & Kashmir Deaf teams.
The matches had taken place at Kolkata’s Merlin Rise Cricket Ground and Rajasthan Club Ground.
In a grand closing ceremony, chief guest Andrew Fleming, British Deputy High Commissioner, East & North East, British High Commission, Kolkata, along with Guests of Honour Boria Mazumdar, Senior sports journalist, historian and writer, Sathan Sanghvi, Director. Malin Group, Sarbani Bhattacharya, Vice-President, Corporate Communications and Corporate Affairs and CSR, Yusuf Sonaseth, Cricket Manager, Harvard School, Kolkata and Amit Sengupta, Head – Media & Communications, British High Commission, Kolkata gave out trophies to the champions and awardees with the Merlin Group sponsoring the Individual Cash Awards for the winners.
Addressing the participants, Andrew Fleming, British Deputy High Commissioner, East & North East, British High Commission, said, “Deaf Cricket is more than just a competition, it is a community and a statement of inclusion and a platform where talent and teamwork shine together through all barriers, the athleticism, comradery and discipline that is on display in this competition is everything about the best in sports. You (participants) remind all of us that accessibility and opportunity is not just ideals they are values within organizations like IDCA that invest in pathways for athletes who are deaf or hard of hearing. I would also like to add that behind every statistic there is a person with talent and potential like all of you and the success of deaf athletes on cricket filed and overcoming challenges is something that can inspire many more and I hope more people would be able to have similar opportunities to what you have here today.”
Echoing his thoughts Boria Mazumdar, Senior sports journalist, historian and writer added “At the end of game what I saw a pure sportsmanship, when Jammu and Kashmir was celebrating, there was a vibe that every single person was together and that is what one wants to see in sports and I will add to the Delhi team that sports also teaches us how to lose, you might have lost today but tomorrow every loss will lead you to success. That is what Sports does and Jammu and Kashmir, your win is special for me because I feel every time you win India wins.”
Nearly a week-long Test series that had teams from Delhi, Bengal, Odisha and Jammu Kashmir came to an end on December 23rd when the Jammu and Kashmir Deaf team was crowned as champions as they defeated Delhi Deaf team by 10 wickets. Earlier in the week Delhi Deaf team had scored 212 runs in the first innings followed by 222 runs in the second innings while Jammu and Kashmir Deaf team had scored 376 runs in the first innings followed by 60 runs in the second innings to win the match. (UNI)
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