To commemorate the International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2024, the British Deputy High Commission Kolkata organized an event in partnership with the Indo-British Scholars’ Association (IBSA), the Rotary Club of Kolkata Metro City, and Connections.

Bringing together differently abled cricket players from the West Bengal Cricket Association for Differently Abled, the event’s theme was “Amplifying leadership in Disability Cricket”. The panel discussion celebrated inclusivity, perseverance, and the power of sport while highlighting the leadership potential of cricket players with disabilities.

Rob Tipping, Head of Cricket Programmes at Lord’s Taverners, and Dr. Jane Powell, Performance Manager, Disability Cricket, England and Wales Cricket Board, joined online from London to discuss the different disability cricket initiatives they have been working on to promote the game.

A panel discussion on “Amplifying the Leadership in Disability Cricket” included Ritushree Guha, Utpal Majumdar, Sarbani Bhattacharya, and Dr. Andrew Fleming. Amit Sengupta led a panel discussion that highlighted the value of accessibility in sports, tearing down obstacles and advancing equal chances for individuals with disabilities.

Dr. Andrew Fleming, British Deputy High Commissioner to East and Northeast India said: “Participating in sports is not only beneficial to one’s health but also a very effective way to learn a variety of life skills. Everyone should have access to it, and the community of people with disabilities should be included. India has seen the rise of stars in a variety of sports, including archery, badminton, and cricket, some of whom attended our event. We had a great conversation about what more might be done in this regard, but there is still a long way to go until sport is genuinely accessible to everyone in India and the rest of the world”.

Subhojit Roy, Rotary Club of Kolkata Metro City said “Rotary is dedicated to promoting inclusion and dismantling obstacles by encouraging participation in sports by people with disabilities. We ensure that everyone has the chance to enjoy the joy of sport and discover the strength of the community by empowering athletes with disabilities to compete, flourish, and display their talents through our projects”.

The Coach and players of the WBCADA were felicitated with mementos sponsored by Rotary Club of Kolkata Metro.

The West Bengal Cricket Association for Differently Abled’s coach and players received a cricket kit from IBSA Vice-President Reetasri Ghosh on behalf of IBSA.

The occasion also brought attention to IBSA and Rotary’s continuous CSR initiatives to furnish resources and establish a forum for individuals with disabilities, enabling them to flourish and engage completely in society.

Priyanka Dutta