Bengaluru: BBMP Mayor G Padmavathi felicitated the Indian Blind Cricket team, coach and the team officials on Tuesday at the BBMP Head Office for retaining the T20 World Cup Cricket for the Blind Trophy. Impressed by the involvement and work done by the Chairman of World Blind Cricket Council, and the President of the Cricket Association for the Blind in India Mahantesh GK, the Mayor announced that he will be one of the recipients of the Kempe Gowda Award for 2017.
Thanking the Mayor, Mahantesh GK said, “We are honoured to have such a wonderful proactive professional as our Mayor. She had been among the first ones to visit the Stadium on Sunday for the match and stayed till the end of the game and observed the players very keenly. Our Boys are truly honoured to be in her presence and receive her blessings. We as a team will give our best to ensure that our vision of Bangalore being the Capital of Sports for the Disabled comes true. We appeal to the Worshipful Mayor to consider our request for continuous and permanent fund of Rs 25 lakh or more per year to help organize various tournaments for differently abled. WE also request you to consider our appeal to the Sports Minister of Karnataka to allot 15 acres of land to construct a 100 % Accessible Disabled Friendly cricket stadium for the visually impaired so that we do not have to depend on various other spaces and organizations for playing our matches.”
Congratulating the spectacular performance, Mayor G Padmavathi said “India retaining the World Cup trophy has been a historic moment. I will seriously consider their proposal for grants and space for the Disabled Friendly Stadium at the earliest. I also take this opportunity to say that I’m proud of Mahantesh’s contribution to the All-Round Empowerment of the Differently Abled. He truly deserves the BBMP’s Kempegowda Award for this year. I will put forth his name for recipients of the award for 2017.”
Being ecstatic at being congratulated by the Mayor, Indian Blind Cricket Team Captain I Ajay Kumar Reddy said “I’m truly speechless and got tears of happiness. All these celebrations are because of CABI and our President Mahanteshji. Without them and their constant support, nothing would have been possible. I personally thank the Worshipful Mayor for calling us to congratulate us.”
The Indian Team along with the Coach and the WBC Chairman met the Directorate of Empowerment of Differently Abled and former chief minister HD Kumaraswamy. The Directorate was excited to meet the winners along with the trophy and assured of a constant annual grant of Rs 50 lakh for organizing cricket matches.
Former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy congratulated the players and also recalled the last time he witnessed a Cricket for the Blind Match. He assured that he will do the best in his capacity to ensure the differently abled community gets all the help they can.
