Daijiworld Media Network – Visakhapatnam

Visakhapatnam, Dec 7: From a remote tribal hamlet in the Eastern Ghats of Alluri Sitarama Raju district, 15-year-old Pangi Karuna Kumari scripted history by helping India lift the inaugural SBI Women’s T20 World Cup for the Blind in Colombo. Her match-winning 42-run knock in the final against Nepal proved crucial in India’s unbeaten campaign.

Born completely blind, Karuna grew up with little access to formal schooling or organised sport and faced early ridicule in her village. “People said I couldn’t study or play,” she recalled, adding, “But my parents never stopped supporting me.” Her journey took a turn two years ago when she joined the Government Residential School for Visually Challenged Girls in Visakhapatnam, where her natural sense of balance and movement was first recognised by PET teacher Satyavati and Principal Vijaya.

Under the guidance of coach Ravi Kumar, Karuna learned blind cricket skills—listening to the rattle of the ball, gauging movement instinctively, and batting with measured confidence. “My school trained me in everything. My friends encouraged me, saying I could bring a good name to all of us,” she said. Her parents, initially unaware of the rigour of her training, now express immense pride. “We are very happy about her win,” said her father, Rambabu.

Karuna’s rise highlights the hidden stories of young athletes from remote regions overcoming social and physical barriers to shine on the national stage. As she returned home with the World Cup medal, she expressed hope that more visually challenged children, especially from tribal and rural backgrounds, get the support she received.

“Anyone can achieve what they want if they have the zeal,” she noted. On the institutional front, she added, “We only need more care, better facilities and infrastructure, and encouragement.” The teenager’s journey stands as a testament that talent can emerge quietly from the most unlikely places, if given a chance to be heard.