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Cricket for children of a lesser God
Geetanjali Gayatri
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, December 10
The high five, the famous World Cup huddle on the ground and the glee of a win made for a memorable day for the city's cricket team which won the preliminary match against Faridkot. It was like any other match in progress as spectators cheered on and yet, it was special for competing teams as well as those present. Mentally challenged students from all over the region, organised in teams, vied for the top position in the two-day North Zone Cricket Tournament, which got under way here today. And the man behind the show, Prof B.S. Chavan, Head of Psychiatry, Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32, sat back and enjoyed every moment of the many matches that were played on the cricketing pitch of the Sector 16 stadium. "I went into the hostel of the institute one day, some four years ago, and noticed children sitting glued to the television, watching a cricket match. Their faces were lighted up as they watched cricketers play. It was then that the idea of organising a cricket match for these children struck me," he recalls. After a few rounds of friendly matches between the staff and the children, the Institute widened the scope of the game by inviting teams from the region. The first North Zone Cricket Tournament was held in the same year, 2000, and since then it has become an annual feature. "The first time we had six teams participating in the tournament. This time, there are eight teams and interestingly the winners trophy has been won by the Chandigarh team for three years. We are keeping our fingers crossed and hoping the boys will not depart from convention," Professor Chavan adds. This is one reason for keeping girls out though there are a few enthusiastic ones willing to wield the bat. With more boys at the institute, the girls didn't stand a chance. "The boys were too good and we wanted a winning combination. Their name on the team is judged by their performance in matches at the institute and training sessions they have. In fact, we have a team of boys and girls from Ropar," he informs between rounds of applauding the teams in the centre for their performance during the match. While the children of the institute in the city and others from Haryana, Punjab, Delhi and Rajathan showed a lot of eagerness for the matches, the public stood in their way. "The manager of the stadium was reluctant to give the stadium for the tournament, apprehensive of the fits of violence these children might undergo and spoil the pitch or break things. It took a lot of convincing before he decided to give us a chance. After the first successful match, we have had no problem on that front," Professor Chavan, honoured on the World Disabled Day for his work of rehabilitating the mentally challenged, remarks. There is a problem of another kind organisers are facing, that of paucity of funds. More teams are willing to come and have shown great interest but are unable to make it with no sponsors. "If people can come forward and sponsor these teams, matches would generate greater interest and become more competitive," he claims. He is quick to add that sports play an important role in the physical and mental development of children, builds up their self-image, develops confidence and enables better coordination of movement. The list of the benefits, he says, is endless.
Arvind Katyal adds: Meanwhile, the two-day meet was earlier inaugurated by Mr Karan Avtar Singh, Finance Secretary, UT Administration. He said such tournaments were vital to integrate mentally-challenged children in the mainstream of society.According to Dr Chavan, 12 teams had given their consent but four teams, Jeevan Jyot, Patiala, Navjyoti, Delhi, Little Flower, Panchkula, and Asha, Pathankot, did not report. The teams taking part include GIMRC, Sector 32, Aanchal Special School, Delhi, Umang Special School, Faridkot, Nirdosh Special School, Ludhiana, Savera Special School, Chandigarh, Little Flower School, Panchkula, Ambuja Special School, Ropar, and Amla Birla Pilani, Rajasthan. Interestingly, in this meet, a few salient features are different from normal cricket. Leg before wicket (LBW) is not considered to be out, Coaches and managers are allowed during the match to properly guide the teams, Tennis balls are used and each side
players 16 overs. When one of the boys, Mandeep from Faridkot, was asked how he had got out without scoring any run, he quipped, “Maza nahin aaya. Agli bar chhodunga nahin.” In the tie between GIMRC, Sector 32, and Nirdosh, Ludhiana, GIMRC scored 172 runs for four wickets while its opponents were all out for 16 runs. Pappu was declared the man of the match. At the Government Model Senior Secondary School grounds, Sector 32, in the match played between Amla Birla, Pilani, and Savera, Chandigarh, the former won the toss and decided to field first. Savera were all out for 37 runs, and the Pilani team achieved the target by scoring 38 runs in just eight overs and without any loss of wicket. Sanchit from Amla, was declared the man of the match. At Government Post-Graduate College, Sector 46, in the tie between Red Cross Special School, Faridkot, and Little Flower, the former were given walk over. In the fourth match in Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 35, between Aanchal Special School, Delhi, and Ambuja Manovikas Kendra, Ropar, the former made 122 runs for the loss of four wickets. In reply, Ambuja Manovikas Kendra was bundled out for 24 runs. Bijoy was adjudged the man of the match. The semi-finals will be played tomorrow morning at the Sector 16 Cricket Stadium, followed by finals in the afternoon.
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