By Soumya R Thomas*; Based on the conversation between Sagar Gowda and Debraj Chaudhury on A Day on Ginny’s Planet – 4th Edition: 3rd October 2021
The Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, just like previous editions of the game brought to light adaptive sports and its players. It was also the time when media outlets actively covered the tournament. However, let’s be honest, we do not focus on or think (and neither do the media outlets) about sportspersons with a disability until and unless someone bags a medal, and that too if it is at the Olympics and no less!
Did you know that we have a Divyang Premier League (DPL), the inaugural season of which was organized in 2017? I got to know about the same from Sagar Gowda’s interview with Debraj Chaudhury, which was held during the fourth edition of A Day on Ginny’s Planet. A Day on Ginny’s Planet is a quarterly event (online) by Ginny’s Planet and brings diverse conversations and workshops to people across ages. Sports are always a part of this day.
Who is Sagar? Sagar is a 23-year-old from Bengaluru who is currently, the Vice-Captain of the Karnataka Wheelchair Cricket Team and a member of the Wheelchair Cricket India Team. Among his several achievements, the latest was being awarded the Most Valuable Player of the Tournament in the Divyaang Premier League, 2021 in Punjab. He is a full-time professional working with Synup and also engages actively in Divyaang Myithri Sports Academy’s outreach work as a Communications Manager. With an aim to promote wheelchair and other adaptive sports like cricket, handball, kabaddi, and others at grass root level across Karnataka, Divyaang Myithri Sports Academy is the organization that introduced Sagar to Wheelchair Cricket.
During his interview, Sagar talks about his childhood, his background, and his journey to becoming a celebrated wheelchair cricketer. He admits that he has no individual goals but is wholeheartedly dedicated to community work and his team. His dream is to bring the National Wheelchair Cricket Trophy home for Karnataka. As the interview draws to a close, he exhorts everyone to take a genuine and active interest in adaptive ports, its players and support the idea of inclusive sports. And not just be interested in the same when it is the Paralympics season!
If you are a cricket enthusiast or someone who loves sports, then this highly stimulating conversation is for you. You can watch the complete interview here
About Ginny’s Planet:
Ginny’s Planet is a social enterprise Co-founded by Dr. Shweta Verma in 2019. The brand runs on the core value of helping our teachers and parents to teach their children to become independent, smart and better leaders by equipping them with a deep understanding of empathy, diversity, disability and inclusion. Dr. Shweta and the team design events, workshops and products to help guardians & schools to develop kids’ mindset and evolve as adaptive and flexible human beings. They work with schools to organise workshops for children and teachers.
*Soumya Rachel Thomas, Development Communications Intern, Ginny’s Planet. She is a social work professional.
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I don’t normally check out these types of sites (I’m a pretty modest person) – but even though I was a bit shocked as I was reading, I was definitely a bit excited as well. Thanks for making my day