PANJIM: It was an emotional moment on Saturday for wheelchair-bound, self-employed architect and para-athlete and Captain of Goa Wheelchair Cricket Team from Nuvem, Stany D’Souza.
Having toiled hard as a physically challenged person and overcome multiple personal and professional challenges, D’Souza and his family were overwhelmed with emotions after he was honoured by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant during the 80th Independence Day celebrations, for his determination and commitment in his professional and sporting journey.
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D’Souza completed his Diploma in Architecture in 2003 from the JSS Polytechnic for the Physically Handicapped, Mysore, graduating with the Third Rank. He subsequently established his own architectural and engineering practice, Cadoline Architects & Engineers, through which he has also provided employment opportunities to others.
As a para-sports athlete, D’Souza has represented Goa in table tennis, wheelchair badminton, and the Khelo India Games. He achieved a Top 8 position in table tennis and has competed at the Khelo India Games on two occasions.
Furthermore, he has played a pivotal role in promoting wheelchair cricket in Goa. He was instrumental in forming the Goa Wheelchair Cricket Team and currently serves as its captain, fostering teamwork, confidence, and active participation among fellow wheelchair athletes.
Reacting to the award, D’Souza said: “I am extremely honoured and thankful to the State government for recognising my efforts. This will motivate many others like me to strive for excellence.”
Speaking about his sporting journey, he said that although he plays multiple sports as a para-athlete, he is mainly concentrating on wheelchair cricket as it gets more attention from the people.
“Our cricket team, which was formed two years ago, recently won the National Wheelchair Cricket Championship in Odisha. This sport has proven to be a powerful medium for raising awareness about the talents and challenges of physically disabled individuals, as it naturally attracts significant public attention,” he said.
D’Souza said that the team’s success is a testament to the dedication of the players and the vital support of their families.
“On a personal level, engaging with this sport has been transformative, helping me overcome a naturally reserved disposition to become far more outgoing and communicative,” he said.
According to him, while wheelchair cricket in Goa is still developing compared to other States, it is receiving encouraging support.
“Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has committed to assisting our team through the CM Care Fund. Additionally, Kamala Prasad Yadav, the sarpanch of Chicalim, has generously granted us unlimited access to his personal ground in Verna for our practice sessions,” he said.
D’Souza added that his immediate objective is to win the national wheelchair cricket championship and establish Goa as the top team in the country.
“Our journey demonstrates that despite daily hardships, persistence and a strong motivation to achieve one’s goals can overcome significant odds,” he said.
