How This Specially-Abled Sportsman Is Chasing His Passion From Rural UP

Think of a Sunday and you might imagine a long day of cricket or football games. But in the case of Jitendra Pathkar, such afternoons are for leaving his hometown in Uttar Pradesh to hit the court and practice wheelchair basketball.

Jitendra, from Lalitpur district’s Beerdha block, is India’s first disabled basketball player from such a remote area.

Sitting in front of a line of trophies he has earned, Jitendra, 26, appears pleasantly serious and comfortable talking to us about his experiences.

He is determined to create a name for himself in the sport, irrespective of the government’s role in providing the support required to make the path more accessible.

In theory, state policy in India encourages people with disabilities to participate in sports and leisure activities, particularly with the National Policies for Persons with Disabilities, 2006 and the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2011.

Also Read: How One Report Smashed the Shackles of an Age-Old Casteist Horror in Rural Uttar Pradesh

One section maintains that the government must establish a National Body for Disability Sports to encourage all people with physical impairments to participate. Indeed, the Wheelchair Basketball Federation of India (WBFI), one such national body, has been active since 2014, hosting workshops in Delhi, Maharashtra, Kerala, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu, reaching an estimated 256 participants.

Jitendra himself was first inspired to play when he saw his friends, from both Lalitpur and Jhansi, take to the court. In an unusual sight in UP, some of them were in wheelchairs.

“When I saw them playing basketball in a wheelchair, it gave me the confidence to play this game as well,” he says.

His first days of practice were spent in a basic wheelchair, mostly used only for moving from one place to another. But soon after he began playing, he was selected for a national team and travelled to Delhi for his first championship, and continued on to play in another tournament in Chennai.

Access to facilities is a prohibitive factor – the wheelchair used by disabled athletes for basketball costs anywhere more than Rs 33,000. The relatively low profile of basketball in India is another big reason for the lack of interest and hence, funds in the sport. Domestic competitions are not televised, and media coverage is limited, though a scheme launched in 2010 between the Basketball Federation of India and a sports marketing group seeks to bring out new players with a focus on the grassroots.

Since there is no stadium in his village, Jitendra travels on Sundays, and on days when he has time, to a Lalitpur Authority Ground, about 40 kilometres away.

“It is difficult to commute, and no facilities from the government are provided to us,” he says. “The government has not done anything for us although I am the first disabled basketball player from a remote area.”

Meanwhile, the number of people with physical disabilities across India is growing – both in urban and rural areas. A total of 26.8 million people surveyed in the 2011 Indian Census had some form of disability. 18.6 million were males, and 8.2 were female, while 15.0 million of the total were in rural locations, and 11.8 were in urban areas.

Plus, among males, a disability affecting movement was the most common among the types of conditions surveyed; 22.5% of men with disabilities are affected in terms of movement.

“I would like to request the government to provide athletes proper facilities in remote areas so that they make their country proud,” says Jitendra.

But Jitendra is already one step ahead in pursuing his own hoop goals.

Also Read: Moon Walking in Rural UP! How One Dance Academy Is Letting Kids Follow Their Passion

“As a sportsperson, the way I practice every day in a wheelchair that was used for mobility and not sports should be encouraged by the government,” he says. “I want to earn a name in this sport, and I hope the government will continue to support me as I go ahead. I look forward to achieving my dreams.”

Like this story? Or have something to share? Write to us: [email protected], or connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.
NEW: Click here to get positive news on WhatsApp!

Found Value in This Story?Pay What You Can to Support Impactful Journalism

If you found our stories insightful, informative, or even just enjoyable, we invite you to consider making a voluntary payment to support the work we do at The Better India. Your contribution helps us continue producing quality content that educates, inspires, and drives positive change.

Choose one of the payment options below for your contribution-

₹201
₹501
₹1001

By paying for the stories you value, you directly contribute to sustaining our efforts focused on making a difference in the world. Together, let’s ensure that impactful stories continue to be told and shared, enriching lives and communities alike.

Thank you for your support. Here are some frequently asked questions you might find helpful to know why you are contributing?