Amir Hussain Lone, a para-cricketer from Jammu & Kashmir, is thrilled to see his dream of opening a cricket academy for children finally coming to life Losing both arms at the age of eight in an accident at his father’s mill, Amir refused to let his disability hinder his passion for cricket Adopting a unique playing style, he bowls using his legs and bats with his shoulder and neck Recognizing his talent and determination, his teacher introduced him to para-cricket, setting him on a journey of resilience and achievement Now 34, Amir has been playing professional cricket since 2013, competing in tournaments across Afghanistan, Nepal, and the UAE Despite his talent, he faced significant challenges, particularly in sustaining a livelihood through para-cricket Yet, his unwavering dedication earned recognition earlier this year when Gautam Adani, Chairman of the Adani Group, praised his indomitable spirit in a post on X (formerly Twitter) Adani announced that the Adani Foundation would support Amir’s journey, acknowledging him as an inspiration to many This support proved transformative The Adani Foundation initially provided financial assistance to help Amir revive his life and career Recently, they granted him ₹70 lakhs to establish an indoor cricket facility in his village of Waghama, Anantnag, allowing him to realize his dream of mentoring young cricket enthusiasts through his own academy Amir’s determination has been evident since childhood, exemplified by an incident where observing ducks inspired him to learn swimming Just as he mastered swimming through sheer persistence, he embraced cricket with the same resolve From an unnoticed child on the field to an internationally recognized para-cricketer and now a mentor for aspiring players, Amir’s journey is a testament to resilience and the belief that dreams can be achieved through hard work and support

Zara Khatoon

Srinagar•

3 hrs ago