Imagine a basketball match where the referee uses a flashlight instead of a whistle, or a game of blind cricket where the ball "tinkles" before it hits the bat. This and more was in store for participants at a sports meet for differently-abled persons held at Bannerghata Road in the city on Sunday.
People with hearing impairment, visual impairment, physical disabilities and cerebral palsy participated. The event was organised by Enable Academy, an online platform for persons with disabilities, Decathlon and volunteer group India for Inclusion.
"This is our first step to creating a community for sports which is inclusive for all," said Vishnu of India for Inclusion, "Once a person with a disability gets a job, there should be other avenues for them to explore their interests, not just going from work to home to work."
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Wheelchair basketball, wheelchair table tennis and blind cricket was organised for the participants. "During the basketball match, the referee used a flashlight and torch to communicate with the players who were hearing impaired," said Vishnu. There were around 30 participants for the event.
Dileep (25), who is physically challenged and uses a wheelchair, participated in both the basketball and table tennis matches. "I'd never played either game before and didn't think it would be possible, but now I'm thinking I can do much more," he said.