In a proud moment for Uttarakhand, four players from the state — Shefali Rawat, Sheetal Kumari, Tanuja Parmar, and Akshara Rana — are representing India in the 2025 IBSA Women’s Blind Football World Championship, currently underway in Kochi, Kerala. Leading the squad is Shefali Rawat, who has been appointed captain of the Indian women’s blind football team.
Shefali has showcased exceptional performance so far, scoring two goals in the tournament — one against Poland and another against England. Meanwhile, Akshara Rana has also made her mark by scoring a crucial goal against Poland. Defenders Sheetal Kumari and Tanuja Parmar have been instrumental in holding the backline, ensuring the opposing teams struggle to break through India’s defense.
Coach Naresh Singh Nyal expressed his pride, saying, “There can be no greater joy for a coach than to see four of his players representing and playing for the national team. This is the result of years of consistent hard work and training.”
The National Institute for the Empowerment of Persons with Visual Disabilities (NIEPVD) in Dehradun has been conducting year-round training programs for blind football, and the results are now evident at the international level.
If the Indian women’s blind football team finishes within the top eight positions globally, it will secure a spot in next year’s World Cup — a milestone achievement for both the players and the nation.
