Udaipur, October 15: The National Physical Disability T-20 Cricket Championship commenced at the Field Club grounds in Udaipur on Tuesday. Narayan Seva Sansthan, in collaboration with the Differently Abled Cricket Council of India (DCCI), is organizing this eleven-day championship. For the first time, the best player of the tournament will receive a car.

MP Dr Mannalal Rawat and Paris Paralympic Shooting Bronze Medalist Mona Agarwal were honored as Chief Guests to the event. They were saluted by over 400 players from 24 teams representing various states and their coaches during the flag hoisting march. Dr. Mannalal Rawat, expressed admiration for the players' high enthusiasm despite their physical disabilities. He also highlighted the outstanding performance of handicapped players in the recent Paralympics in Paris, expressing confidence in their dedication and commitment to excellence in the National Cricket Tournament.

The inaugural match's special guests included PCCI President Surendra Lohia, DCCI State President Jyotsna Chaudhary, Officer Corporate Chairman DCCI Rajesh Bhardwaj, BCCI Manager Alvin Gaikwad, DCCI Hyderabad President Surendra Agarwal, and Narayan Seva Sansthan Director Vandana Agarwal. The opening match featured Rajasthan and Kerala, with Rajasthan batting first and scoring 182 runs. Notably, international player Surendra Kumar scored 120 runs, achieving a century in 67 balls.

Prashant Agarwal, NSS President, welcomed the guests, players, DCI officials, and team managers. He emphasized the institute's commitment to empowering disabled players by organizing the Khel Maha Kumbh at the national level since 2017.

A total of 67 matches will be played across various grounds in Udaipur city, with 24 teams divided into four groups. Each day will feature 8 matches, resulting in 60 league matches. The final match is scheduled to take place at the Field Club on October 25. Comprehensive arrangements have been made for the security, transport, food, accommodation, and travel of all the players.

The institute has previously organized two National Para Swimming, one National Blind Cricket, one National Wheelchair Cricket Championship, and the Third National Disabled Cricket Championship. The Wheelchair Cricket Championship organized by the institute has been recognized in the Guinness Book of World Records.

Secretary Ravikant Chauhan, welcoming on behalf of DCCI, noted that the players participating in the championship were selected based on their performance in various tournaments held in the past year. All players are over 18 years old, with most facing congenital physical disabilities or having one hand or leg disability. Some players also have underdeveloped bodies.

In this standing cricket, each team will have 4 runners provided to players who use crutches, artificial limbs, or are physically unable to run. The best-performing cricketer in the championship will receive a car, while the 'Man of the Series' will be awarded a scooter.

The championship features renowned players such as Indian team captain Virat Kani, Mumbai's Ravindra Sante, Vidarbha's Gurudas Raut, Bengal's Tushar Roy, Gujarat's Asit Jaiswal, and Jammu and Kashmir's Wasim Iqbal and Amir, all of whom have participated in the Para World Cup tournament.