Victorious women's cricket team for blind receives grand welcome in Bengaluru

Bengaluru: The Indian women's cricket team for the blind were received with a grand welcome here on Monday after the Deepika TC-led team won the inaugural Women’s T20 World Cup in Colombo on Sunday.

Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI) head Mahantesh GK, a visually impaired former cricketer who runs an NGO for the disabled, announced that two different private bodies have granted a combined cash prize of Rs 1,25,000 for each member of the team.

The team's captain Deepika, who is a partially sighted or B3 category cricketer from Tambalahatti village in Karnataka-Andhra Pradesh border, turned emotional at the grand reception and spoke her heart out.

"When we won the World Cup, I was thinking about the families of each of my team-mates, it was the culmination of all the hard work we did to reach here, facing flak from society for years," said a teary-eyed Deepika.

CABI chief Mahantesh was overwhelmed by the occasion too and shared the difficulties he went through to jointly organise the tournament with Sri Lanka.

"It was a matter of immense pride when the world body (WBCC) asked us to host the event. However, we didn't have any sponsor till October 25 (three weeks before the first match). That's why I am thankful to all those who joined hands with us at the last minute and make this event possible."