In Delhi, a new training initiative has been launched to support visually impaired women and girls who are passionate about cricket. This project, funded by the Australian High Commission’s development assistance program, aims to provide technical skills and training for 50 participants over three months.
At the ceremony to launch this project, Australian High Commissioner to India, Philip Green, highlighted the strong bond between Australia and India through cricket. He emphasized Australia’s commitment to supporting all individuals in achieving their potential and advancing gender equality and the rights of people with disabilities.
“Australia and India are bound together powerfully by cricket,” High Commissioner Green said. He expressed pride in supporting the initiative by Samarthanam and the Cricket Association for the Blind in India. This initiative is seen as a significant step towards breaking down barriers and making cricket more accessible to people with disabilities, especially women and girls.
High Commissioner Green also mentioned his satisfaction in working with Indian cricket partners to promote sports as a means of creating a safe, welcoming, and empowering environment for women and girls.
The official launch event in Delhi was attended by Philip Green OAM, then-Minister of State for External Affairs and Culture Meenakshi Lekhi, Trustee of Samarthanam, Trust for the Disabled & Cricket Association for the Blind in India President Busa Gowda, and Cricket Association for the Blind in Delhi President Yogesh Taneja.
Philip Green OAM emphasized that the partnership focuses on developing and promoting a women’s blind cricket team. The initiative aims to mobilize resources, build capacity, provide vocational training, and support women athletes from Delhi to play for the state and national blind cricket teams.
Samarthanam, a long-time development partner of the Australian High Commission, plays a key role in this initiative. The Australian High Commission is proud to collaborate with Samarthanam and the Cricket Association for the Blind in India to make cricket more inclusive and empower visually impaired women and girls through sports.
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