Bengaluru: Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI) and Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled announced the launch of a 12-day intensive coaching camp, supported by NTT DATA, a global leader in digital business and technology services, under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme. The camp will prepare India’s top 56 visually impaired women cricketers for the inaugural Women’s T20 World Cup Cricket for the Blind, scheduled for November 2025 across three venues — New Delhi, Kathmandu, and Bengaluru.
Inaugurated at the Samarthanam Art Centre, the camp will deliver advanced cricket training along with life skills development, digital literacy, and financial literacy sessions. Players—selected from 16 States based on their performance at the Women’s National 2025—have been placed into four teams: India Red, India Blue, India Yellow, and India Orange. All participants will also receive a three-month stipend to support their preparation and higher education.
A Selection Committee will evaluate performance throughout the camp to identify the top 17 players who will advance to elite training and ultimately represent India at the World Cup.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Mahantesh G. Kivadasannavar, Chairman of CABI, said: “The stage is set for the qualification phase of the Women’s T20 World Cup for the Blind. We thank NTT DATA, who have been our staunch supporters for many years, for championing this historic moment and empowering our players to showcase their skills, leadership, and resilience on the world stage.”
“This coaching camp marks a powerful step forward in the journey of inclusive sports. At NTT DATA, we believe that true innovation begins with equal opportunity—and these 56 remarkable women athletes are a testament to what’s possible when barriers are removed and potential is nurtured. We are proud to continue our partnership with Samarthanam and CABI in championing the Women’s T20 World Cup for the Blind, and in creating platforms where resilience, talent, and leadership shine,” said Ankur Dasgupta, Head of Marketing – India, NTT DATA.
“I feel truly humbled and privileged to be part of this event and to learn more about Cricket for the Blind. It was an honour to share the stage with these inspiring visually impaired cricketers, and I wholeheartedly wish them the very best for the upcoming World Cup. Cricket has always been my greatest passion and has given me everything in life. I stand in full support of Cricket for the Blind, and I urge everyone to come forward and support this remarkable initiative,” said Indian Cricketer, Shubha Satheesh.