Cricketer-Turned-Coach Helps Differently-Abled Players Shine
Training athletes is always a challenge, but coaching differently-abled players requires even more dedication and effort. Former cricketer Bandary Parmeshwar Reddy has taken on this challenge with passion, spending years coaching both state and national deaf cricket teams.
Like many young Indians, Parmeshwar Reddy dreamed of playing for the national team. He started his cricket journey at Hyderabad’s LB Stadium under coach Uma Shankar’s guidance. He showed great promise and represented the Under-25 state team. However, his father was against his cricketing ambitions and encouraged him to focus on traditional Indian sports like wrestling and weightlifting. Despite this, his elder brother, Phaneshwar Reddy, supported him financially and helped him pursue cricket.
After his playing career, Parmeshwar Reddy became a coach at the same ground where he once trained. In 2010, he began coaching young cricketers at LB Stadium. Over the years, he has trained more than 6,000 children and, at one point, mentored as many as 300 students at a time. However, his most fulfilling work began when he started coaching differently-abled cricketers.
For the past three years, he has been training both men and women with hearing impairments at Hyderabad’s Hanuman Vyayamshala Ground. Coaching differently-abled players requires patience, creativity, and a different teaching approach. “Training regular athletes follows a set pattern, but coaching those who cannot hear or speak is a unique challenge. I enjoy every bit of it,” says Parmeshwar Reddy, who is a Level 1 ICC-certified coach. One of his students, Asheesh Singh, made a mark internationally as a wicketkeeper for the Cincinnati Cricket Club in the US, scoring over 1,100 runs in a single season.
To support himself financially while continuing his passion, Parmeshwar Reddy took up a coaching job at Delhi Public School, where he trains young cricketers. However, his vision goes beyond cricket. Along with fellow cricketer Rajesh, he is launching Alfa Sports, a multi-sport academy. “Children should be exposed to different sports. Every three months, we will introduce them to a new game and guide them based on their interests and skills,” he explains.
Reddy also emphasizes the importance of physical activity for children. He encourages parents to ensure their kids engage in at least 30 minutes of play every day. “Academics are important, but physical strength supports mental strength. Even civil servants undergo physical training. A balanced education must include sports,” he says. He credits his success to his cricket coach at LB Stadium, Uma Shankar.
Through his dedication, Parmeshwar Reddy is not only shaping future cricketers but also empowering differently-abled individuals. His journey proves that passion and perseverance can overcome any obstacle.
