It is a never-before-seen sight, even at the biggest indoor stadium in the city. Players are seated in chairs/wheelchairs. Some of them can move their hands, but some can only move their fingers and turn their heads. Strewn on the floor are several lightweight balls. Sitting in one of these chairs, little Jagaraj throws the red balls he has been given. A few false starts later, his throw lands a red ball very close to the white ball, that lies about 10 feet away. There is a huge applause and a tear in many an eye. In this game, points are awarded proportional to the proximity reached to the white ball and though he doesn’t speak much the smile on his face says it all.
This is disability sport boccia in action.“I hadn’t ever dreamt that I would get to play sports, " says Arun Kumar, another mobility challenged kid here. He plans to teach boccia to his friends, when he gets back to Amar Seva Sangam, a centre for disabled kids in Ayikudi, Tirunelveli district.
Yet another player here is Chennai-based V.S. Anjana, who uses a ramp to slide the ball down, because she is unable to throw it. The young woman, who has a B.A in English and Communicative Skills from Ethiraj College, is all fired up and says, “We talk about inclusion. But in India, inclusion happens only in education. Don’t we too need entertainment and games in our lives?” she says.
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These youngsters and several other movement-mobility challenged persons of assorted ages are getting a taste of boccia, thanks to a boccia workshop being held in the city at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor stadium. The workshop has been organized by Chennai-based YWTC (Yes We Too Can) charitable trust along with Choice International (UK) to develop not only players, but also trainers, coaches and referees for Boccia.
It is hard for a child not to experience the joy of sports. But now, Chennai is looking to break this painful vacuum in disability sports through boccia, paralympic swimming and wheelchair basketball. A paralympic sport that originated in Italy, boccia is a simple ball game that can be played outdoors or indoors, with the barest of equipment.
“Boccia is a very inclusive game,” says Manoj Soma, CEO of Choice International and a Boccia Community Leader from UK.
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Gesturing to little Jagaraj, Mark Anthony Walker, a basketball coach and boccia enthusiast from Melbourne says, “With training and practice, this kid has the potential to be a world champion. "
He adds, “It is a game that can be widely played for entertainment by the disabled, not just as competitive paralympic sports."
According to Madhavi Latha, president of YWTC, national paralympic swimmer and someone who has been pioneering disability sports in the country, “It is a massive job. We need support from the government, from corporate groups, from individuals. If there is more awareness and support, we can bring smiles to many more faces. After all, doesn’t every child deserve to play?"