The Punjab Wheelchair Cricket Team captained by Veer Singh Sandhu recently won the Shrimant Madhavrao Scindia Memorial T 10 National Championship in Gwalior, by defeating Uttar Pradesh. Eight teams in all had taken part in the tourney.
Punjab won by 27 runs. Rohit Anotra’s explosive innings of 50 runs off 25 balls helped Punjab reach a total of 92 runs. Later Punjab’s bowlers put up a remarkable show, restricting UP to 65 runs in 10 overs for the loss of 5 wickets. In 5 matches played by Punjab, Rohit Anotra won the Man of the Match Award in 2 and Captain Veer Singh Sandhu was declared MOM in 2 matches. Sandhu was also awarded Best Fielder of the Tournament.
Both Sandhu and Anotra interacted with the media at the Paraplegic Rehabilitation Centre(PRC), some of whose inmates were also part of the Punjab team. In fact PRC’s Kuber Singh, Mohammad Latif, Ravinder Bhandari and Ranjeet Kumar were part of the Punjab team.*
Sandhu while talking to the media said, “Due to my and Rohit’s performance in the T 10 National Championship both of us were chosen in the Indian team that played against Sri Lanka in the APL Apollo Wheelchair Cricket T20 series at Greater Noida held from June 11-16.”
It is to be noted that Sep Kuber Singh from PRC was part of India’s team as reserve.
Sandhu added, “It was a moment of pride that not only was I selected in the Indian squad against SL but was made the vice-captain.”
It is to be noted that Veer Singh Sandhu, chosen as the wicketkeeper and vice-captain of Team India, along with Rohit Anotra, a hard-hitting batsman, delivered outstanding performances throughout the series. Rohit Anotra earned the Man of the Match award in the second match, and Veer Singh Sandhu impressed with his remarkable wicket-keeping skills.
Rohit Anotra said, “I am happy that India dominated the T 20 India-Sri Lanka series and won all five matches thereby securing a 5-0 victory over Sri Lanka.”
Sandhu further said, “As far as the National Championship is concerned this was Punjab’s second win in the last three years. However, despite our success, the Punjab team is in dire need of financial support.”
Anotra added,”We can only continue playing if some corporate or the state government comes in our support and helps us financially.”
Sharmita Bhinder, Founder, Empower NGO that has been helping the wheelchair cricketers by mustering whatever resources it can, hailed PRC for the support provided by the centre. She said, “The team’s preparation was significantly supported by PRC Mohali, under the direction of Col. Gurkirat Singh Nagra(Retd). His guidance and the efforts of the entire PRC family were crucial to the team’s success.”
It is noteworthy that PRC Mohali provided facilities such as ground, accommodation, food, transport, and other administrative support to the Punjab Wheelchair Cricket team for nearly a month.
