This would have been an ordinary sight at most stadiums, except that these boys are completely or partially blind. They are also national football champions.The Uttarakhand football team for the blind won the All India Invitational Blind Football (IIBF) tournament in Kerala in May, defeating seven other teams to bring the trophy home. "His senior Pankaj Rana, who is the current captain of the Indian football squad for the blind, says that opportunities are opening up for blind footballers although the process is painfully slow. "There is a football coaching academy for the blind which is coming up in Kochi in Kerala. According to Naresh Nayal, coach of the Uttarakhand blind team, "NIVH funds us when we go for tournaments but there is no help from the state.

Source: Times of India August 12, 2017 16:52 UTC