Sports Minister felicitates Blind Cricket World champions
The Hindu
Both the captain and the president of Blind Cricket, praised the government for its consistent support, but pleaded for consideration of a few more key points
The Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur felicitated the Indian team on winning the Blind cricket T20 World Cup for the third successive time recently, at his residence here on Monday.
Listening patiently to the list of “requests and suggestions” from the captain of the team, Ajay Kumar Reddy and the president of Cricket Association of the Blind, G.K. Mahantesh, the Sports Minister assured that both the government and the cricket board (BCCI) would try to find further ways to support blind cricket.
Both the captain and the president of Blind Cricket, praised the government for its consistent support, but pleaded for consideration of a few more key points.
“After winning many World Cups, some of the players are still jobless. We are not considered for Khel Ratna and Arjuna awards. Please recognise us,” said the captain.
The government offers cash prizes for winning the World Cups, and the president wanted the government to increase the cash prize of Rs. 5 lakh that was instituted in 2014.
“We also request the government to increase the grant for hosting such events,” Mahantesh said.
Anurag Thakur said that he had discussed with the Minister of State for Sports, Nisith Pramanik, in a sincere attempt to find ways to support blind cricket, “one way or the other”.