Jalandhar : The grand finale of the 10th Usha Divyang Indian Cricket League unfolded at the Punjab Armed Police Grounds, drawing an enthusiastic crowd and the presence of distinguished guests, including Chief Guest Himanshu Aggarwal, IAS, Deputy Commissioner, Jalandhar, and Guest of Honour Aman Mittal, Vice President, Lovely Professional University.
In the hearing-impaired category, Deaf Defenders emerged victorious against Empower Eagles, securing the win by a narrow margin of 8 runs. The champions elected to bat first after winning the toss. In the visually-impaired category, the finale witnessed the Courageous Tigers defeating the Special Kings to claim the title.
Viraj Kolte was named Man of the Match in the hearing-impaired final, with an impressive 82 runs off 43 balls. Meanwhile, Lokesh Rohatgi from Deaf Defenders was awarded Man of the Tournament for his outstanding performance, scoring 226 runs and taking 17 wickets during the league. Lokesh received a Bajaj Platina Bike as his prize.
Organized by Usha International in partnership with the Deaf Cricket Federation, the three-day event featured over 120 differently-abled cricketers, including international players from Sri Lanka and Nepal. The league included six teams in the hearing-impaired category—Sign Smashers, Deaf Defenders, Unity Tigers, Divyang Warriors, Empower Deaf Eagles, and Deaf Diving Strikers—and two teams in the visually-impaired category, Special Kings and Courageous Tigers.
Cash Prizes:
– Hearing-Impaired Category:
– Winners (Deaf Defenders): ₹50,000
– Runners-Up (Empower Eagles): ₹25,000
– Visually-Impaired Category:
– Winners (Courageous Tigers): ₹31,000
– Runners-Up (Special Kings): ₹11,000
Komal Mehra, Head of Sports Initiatives & Associations at Usha International, remarked, “Every participant in this league has overcome significant challenges to reach this stage. The Usha Divyang Indian Cricket League showcases extraordinary talent and resilience, reflecting Usha’s core values of active and healthy living. This platform is not just about sports; it’s a celebration of inclusivity and the transformative power of opportunities in sports. We hope it inspires many more to create inclusive pathways and foster greater participation.”
The Usha Divyang Indian Cricket League continues to shine as a beacon of inclusivity, talent, and determination, inspiring countless others to embrace sports as a medium of empowerment.
