He lost his right arm at 10. He now wants to play for India in World Cup
Disabled for life, Ankush began training under his elder brother Ramu Singh. He learnt to bat and bowl with his left arm.
Ankush Singh, 22 Disabled cricketer
As a child, he dreamt of becoming the next Tendulkar, and parental pressure was no deterrent for Ankush Singh. The mustard field of Nagla Karan Singh was his cricket ground and he was the star batsman of this village near Bharatpur in Rajasthan.
At the age of 10, he lost his right arm while working with a boring machine. His parents, who till then had been opposed to his dreams and even burnt his bat, softened towards his passion and bought him a bat and a ball.
HEADY DREAM
Playing for India in the World Cup
THE HURDLE
With the Bharatpur Stadium being renovated, regular practice for this left-arm medium pacer all-rounder is getting hampered
Disabled for life, Ankush began training under his elder brother Ramu Singh. He learnt to bat and bowl with his left arm. Simultaneously, his parents were proud to see Ankush score first division marks in his school examinations. Soon, he was spotted by local authorities who sent him to Mumbai for free of cost regular training. Ankush, now a final year BA student, took up cricket as a full-time vocation. He became a member of the team of physically challenged cricketers.
He has represented India against Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in a tri-series and Nepal and Pakistan in Asia Cup. On November 14, 2017, he was vice-captain of a team that played against cine celebrities in Mumbai. The road ahead is tough. His parents want him to find a job, but Ankush says within the quota reserved for sportspersons, there is no category for physically challenged individuals. "I am aiming for the world cup now," says Ankush.