Sportsman’s spirit

Jasmine Singh

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Rekha Trivedi, founder member, Association of Professional Social Workers and Development Practitioners, was thinking how the physically- challenged members of the cricket team which she created two years back, would be spending their free time. Since not everyone was keen on giving them jobs because of their disability; they had to be engaged in something constructive. The members of the cricket team and Rekha thought why not pick up a new sport, and this is how Chandigarh and Punjab’s rugby team came into being. 

“Since I have been involved in work related to development and welfare of persons with disability, I networked with various sports organizations that work for such persons to build their capacity. For two years, we have been successfully organizing a wheelchair cricket joint team for Chandigarh /Punjab. We have sponsored as well as sent teams to many places in UP and Haryana for friendly matches. Just because I am associated with persons with disabilities, I got calls from other network which are into wheelchair sports in the country for evolving a wheelchair rugby team,” she adds. 

Though the team has not been recognised at the state level or received any kind of affiliation from the administration, Rekha feels it is only a matter of time that this team will be winning  laurels at the international level. 

She introduces us to the smiling faces of the rugby team. 

Sunny Shukla, Sunil Kumar, Veer Singh, Rahul, Dalip and Krishna manoeuvre their wheelchairs, on the not-so-professional turf of Sector-21 ground. Young Rahul, 27, an orphan is cheering for the rest of members, ‘pass kar pass kar’, he moves his wheelchair briskly, catching the ball just in time. ‘Foul hai,” Veer shouts as the two get into a friendly altercation. “Since it is  new game, we are getting acquainted to the special rules and regulations,” shares Rahul, who is working as a laboratory technician at Civil Hospital— 22.

Rahul and the rest of his team do not have specialised wheelchairs for the game. They could manage to purchase only two chairs so far. “These chairs are light and allow easy movement,” Veer jumps in the conversation. Perspiring, he wipes the sweat off his face with his tee. “Do you see the attitude of the real star sportsman, in fact, stylish sportsman,” he laughs. 

The team members practise post 2 pm, at any place they can get permission for, be it a school or a place like Mother Teresa Home. They do not have any professional coach to teach rugby, so they teach each other. “I wish we get a net, and that we can practice professionally,” Sunil expresses his concern.  Sunil and Dalip have been picked for the national team.  But despite the challenges, overcoming physical disability, trying to make do with less professional wheelchairs, this rugby team is ever-smiling.