The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Cricketers bring on the smiles

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jun 13, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Cricketers bring on the smiles

K.C. Vijaya Kumar

FULFILLING DREAMS: Cricketers Sachin Tendulkar and V.V.S. Laxman speaking with children of the Matru Foundation in Bangalore on Tuesday. — Photo: Bhagya Prakash K.

Bangalore: As the cameras and microphones focused in on him, Veerappa, a paraplegic boy, choked a bit, smiled, and then mumbled, "Chennagide." That was all he could say for a while as he was yet to come to terms with the dream he was living. He had just met Sachin Tendulkar and all the other leading stars of the Indian cricket team along with a group of children with physical disability who were present at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) to meet their idols here on Tuesday.

"I love of all of them. I am happy," Veerappa said, his head nodding vigorously.

The children live and learn at the Mathru Foundation, a trust for people with disability that has wheelchair-bound athlete Malathi Holla as its chairperson. Initially, when the cricketers were doing their fitness drills inside the NCA gym, former cricketer Venkatesh Prasad met Ms. Holla and the eager kids and promised them that the players would meet them during the lunch break.

Half-an-hour later, as the children fidgeted with their roses and "Best of Luck" cards, Sachin Tendulkar walked in. He shook hands, put an arm around children as he passed, and sat on his haunches to listen to the warm words and the "thank you's" from them. And for a moment, a brief moment, the aura around him faded and he was just another man expressing concern for the children and ensuring that their smiles only broadened.

Taking a cue from Sachin Tendulkar, the other players, ranging from V.V.S. Laxman to youngsters such as Robin Uthappa, mingled with the children.

Venkatesh Prasad, who is also a senior member of the Mathru Foundation, said: "This is a foundation for people with disability run by Malathi Holla. She has set a great example and has got laurels for the country in track and field sport events," he said.

Ms. Holla, however, downplayed her own efforts, choosing instead to laud the spirit of the children. "We aim to provide education and all support to these children. We have adopted them and their parents come and meet them once a month. We don't take any money from the parents and generate our own funds. I am happy to be here and it is fulfilling to see the joy on the faces of the children after they met their cricketing heroes."

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