Para-cricketer Amir gets help for setting up academy
Making it to the international circuit after receiving appreciation from cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, India’s first armless cricketer Amir Hussain Lone has announced that he has got a grant of Rs 67.6 lakh to set up an indoor academy at his native village in Anantnag district of Jammu & Kashmir.
Lone who is also the Brand Ambassador for Aryans Group of Colleges received the grant from the Adani Foundation and will be starting the academy by March.
“The academy will be ready by March. Heavy snowfall in the region poses challenges, especially for players, and that’s why we decided to create an indoor facility. The academy will feature two indoor turf pitches and players will also have the option to practice outdoors when the weather permits. This setup will ensure uninterrupted training regardless of the season,” said Lone who was in Chandigarh with Anshu Kataria, founder, Aryans Group of Colleges. Lone said the academy will be built on 2 kanal of land at his village Bijbehara in Anantnag. Once completed, it will provide free coaching to around 100 children.
Lone is the only bowler who bowls with his toe and plays shots holding the bat between his right shoulder and chin.
Coming from Waghama, a remote area of J&K, the para-cricketer has participated in tournaments in Afghanistan, Nepal and the UAE. In 2016, when star Indian batter Virat Kohli tweeted about him, Tendulkar sent Lone a bat as a token of appreciation. In February this year, Tendulkar met Lone while holidaying in Kashmir.
“We have been associated with him for the two years now and have witnessed his passion and dedication towards fulfilling his dream. With this academy, talented children from Kashmir will have the opportunity to shine at the national level in cricket,” said Kataria.
A few years ago, Amir Lone’s videos bowling with his feet and batting by holding the bat with his neck went viral on social media, earning him the praise from Sachin Tendulkar and other prominent personalities from various fields.
Going strength to strength
After he lost his arms to an accident at the age of eight, a teacher suggested Amir Lone to stay at home.
He started trying to write with his foot. After school, Amir would watch village boys playing cricket. He also tried to swim in a village pond and was saved by a woman from drowning. However, he learnt swimming. Amir shifted his focus to cricket.
To strengthen his neck muscles, he does weight training.
“I always dreamed of playing cricket at the top level, but an accident at the age of eight left me without arms. However, I never gave up. I represented Jammu & Kashmir in the Divyang (disabled) category. My wife even sold her jewellery to support my passion for cricket,” said Lone.
