Date:26/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/26/stories/2008112656640300.htm

Karnataka

Cricket tournament for visually impaired

Staff Correspondent

Winning team will be given a cash prize of Rs. 10,000
Players will be grouped based on degree of their vision impairment

Chitradurga: Teekshna Residential School for Blind will host a state-level cricket tournament called “Teekshna Madakari Cup”, for people who are visually impaired. The tournament will be held on December 11, 12 and 13 at three venues namely Vonake Vobbavaa Stadium, Murugharajendra School Grounds and Middle School Grounds in Chitradurga.

Till date, teams from 15 districts have elicited interest in participating in the tournament and it is expected that there will be a positive response from the other districts too. Mr. Srinivas said that the players will be categorised into three sections based on the percentage of their visual impairment. While totally blind persons will be under category B1, those with 10 per cent visual impairment would be under B2 category and those with 30 per cent impairment would be under B3 category.

The winning team would be given a cash prize of Rs. 10,000. And, the school will provide food and accommodation for participants in private convention halls.

The founder of the school, K.B. Srinivas, told presspersons on Monday that the school intended to promote cricket among the visually impaired He said that the Karnataka State Cricket Board for Blind has given him permission to organise the tournament. Answering a query, he said that the school needed about Rs. 3 lakh for conducting the tournament and they were depending on private donors. He urged the elected representatives and philanthropists to help the school in organising the tournament.