Growing up, Ajay Kumar Reddy solely wished to develop into a soldier and serve the nation. He was heartbroken when he obtained to know that the visually impaired can not enter the military.
But Ajay, who turned partially sighted at an early age, quickly found one other way to serve India: by taking part in cricket and successful the World Cups. For his contributions, he’ll obtain the Arjuna Award subsequent month, turning into the first to win the honour from blind cricket.
Born in Gurazala, Andhra Pradesh, the Indian blind cricket team skipper misplaced his left eye in a freak accident when he was simply 4.
“My parents were farmers. One day I wasn’t able to sleep when my parents had gone to work in the field,” Ajay instructed PTI.
“I wanted my mother. As I got up, the latch of the door went inside my eye. I had surgery but I lost all vision in my left eye.
“I had some imaginative and prescient in my proper eye however by the time I turned 12, I could not see the letters on the board.” To avoid complete vision loss, the doctors advised Ajay’s parents to take him to a blind school.
Ajay’s parents thus moved to Narsarapet to enrol him into the Lutheran High School for the Blind in 2002, and he embarked on what would become a life-changing experience.
“I obtained to learn about blind cricket at that faculty. I additionally heard that Pakistan was the primary team, that Pakistan has overwhelmed India they usually had simply received the World Cup.” It was a time when tensions between the two neighbours were at a high. The Indian Parliament had been attacked by militants and there was mass mobilisation of both nations’ military forces at the border.
“I felt very indignant. I had at all times wished to develop into a soldier and at the moment I stored listening to about the problem at the border. So my mindset was easy – India dropping is unsuitable.
“Without knowing the rules I decided will play for India and make them win the World Cup.” But life was one huge ordeal for Ajay then.
“It was a very hard time for us. My parents only knew farming. We started having financial issues after a month. We needed to borrow money to eat,” recalled the 33-year-old.
“My parents started selling tea and set up an idli-dosa stall. They kept me in the hostel so that I get proper food but I didn’t stay. I felt they were abandoning me.” Ajay tried to assist his dad and mom.
“I used to support my parents by cleaning tea cups, bringing water, make dosas, serve the customer.
“But typically as a result of of my imaginative and prescient, I had issues and folks used to abuse me ‘dikhta nahi kya, andha hai kya?’ (Can’t you see, are you blind?) But I wished to assist my dad and mom.” He found succour in cricket and would play all night, sleep in the morning and then wake up at 1pm and start playing again.
In 2010, he made his India debut and was part of the T20 World Cup-winning team. But that did not give him much joy.
“The first time we received a T20 World Cup. Pakistan cricketers mentioned ‘Oh that is a new format, you have been fortunate that is why you received. In ODIs we’re no 1’.
“Beating Pakistan in the 2014 ODI final was the best moment of my life,” mentioned Ajay, who scored 74 not out in the title conflict whereas battling an damage.
Since then he has captained India to a ODI World Cup win, two T20 World Cup victories and an Asia Cup title.
The Arjuna Award is the recognition that the blind cricket neighborhood has been ready for a very long time.
“We have won so many World Cups but we didn’t get the recognition. This is not my individual achievement but a recognition for the cricket for the blind.
“We get Rs 3000 to play for India. Our gamers will not be taking part in for the cash, they play to make the nation proud. But we additionally want to survive. We want monetary assist, we wish recognition, we’ve got additionally served the nation,” he said.
His vision is fading slowly. And Ajay might have to switch from B2 (players who can see up to 6m) to B1 classification, where athletes are totally or almost totally blind.
But Ajay doesn’t plan to go away from the sport.
“I’m having imaginative and prescient loss, I’m operating round for remedy. If it work I’ll proceed in B2 class, in any other case, I’ll have to transfer to B1.
“But I will be involved in cricket till the time I die. It has given me everything.”
