Bhubaneswar:
Dominant Victory in Colombo Final
India made history by winning the first-ever Blind Women’s T20 World Cup, defeating Nepal by seven wickets in the final held at the P. Saravanamuttu Stadium in Colombo.
Nepal posted 114 for 5 in their 20 overs, but India chased it down emphatically, reaching 117 for 3 in just 12.1 overs to seal the title.
All-Round Heroics by Phula Saren
Opener Phula Saren was the star of the match, scoring 44 runs off 27 balls at a blistering strike rate. She then backed that with tight bowling, returning figures of three overs for just 20 runs, and was rightly named Player of the Match.
Unbeaten Campaign from Start to Finish
India’s road to the title was flawless — they went unbeaten throughout the tournament. In the league phase, they beat Sri Lanka, Australia, Pakistan, the United States and Nepal, before edging out Australia again in the semi-finals.
Historic and Emotional Celebrations
The victory triggered emotional scenes: the Indian players recreated Harmanpreet Kaur’s iconic trophy-lift celebration from the recent women’s ODI World Cup. The moment resonated deeply, symbolising a link between blind cricket and the broader women’s cricket movement in India.
A Milestone for Women’s Blind Cricket
Co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, the tournament featured matches in New Delhi, Bengaluru and Colombo. The format of blind cricket — using a white plastic ball with internal bearings so players can hear it — underscores the remarkable skill and adaptability of the athletes.
Wider Impact and Recognition
The triumph has been hailed as a major step forward for inclusivity in sport. Indian leaders and officials have praised the team’s resilience, with many seeing this as a powerful message for future generations of visually-impaired athletes.
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