Inspirational Teen Cricketer With Hearing, Speech Disabilities Selected for Chhattisgarh Team

Inspiring teenager Shradha Vaishnav overcame her disabilities, getting selected in the women’s cricket team of Chhattisgarh last week, reports Aajtak. She also became the first woman with disabilities to be selected in a state women’s team.

The 18-year-old, who belongs to Bilaspur, was born speech and hearing impaired, but that did not stop her from chasing her cricket dreams. “Shradha used to watch cricket with her younger brother. One day, when she was 13 years old, Shradha she said she wanted to bowl. I took her to a cricket coach who put her in practice sessions. Within a few months, he said Shradha could become a good spin bowler," Shradha’s father Ramesh told TOI.

She understood the specifics of the game through signs and found success through continuous practice and training. She is a student of Anand Niketan School and studies in class 8, as reported by Jagran, which says she has many achievements to her name already and has played in various parts of the country. In the national tournament held in Maharashtra this year, she set a record by taking five wickets back to back.

Shradha's Academy, Foundation by the Champions, congratulates her

Shradha, who is a left hander to boot, is a spinner. She trains at the Foundation by the Champions academy in Bilaspur and one of the coaches at the academy, Mohan Singh Thakur said that she has converted her disability to strength.

“Her extraordinary achievement has inspired many. After hearing her success story, 15 young girls have joined our cricket academy,” said her own trainer at the academy, Anil Thakur.

Even the president of Chhattisgarh State Cricket Sangh has commented that Shradha is an inspiration for all girls who aspire to join the cricket team. He further mentioned that in the beginning, it was a little difficult for the team to understand Shradha because of her disabilities, but things are getting better now as it is her bowling skills that speak on her behalf.

Shradha stands as an example for many young girls with disabilities who want to achieve something but get demotivated due to their shortcomings. Way to go, Shradha!

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