Pampore: Specially-abled cricketer from Pampore adds one more feather to his cap after he along with seven other disabled youth scaled Siachen Glacier Kumar Post.
The National cricketer from the blind team of India, Irfan Ahmad Mir (24), from Dusoo village of Saffron town Pampore was a part of expedition organised by Conquer Land Air Water Global, an organisation founded in 2019 by retired special forces presently headed by Retired Major Vivek Jacob.
The expedition was flagged off by Union Minister for Social Justice Empowerment from New Delhi and lasted for one month in which they trekked 70 kilometres and reached the Summit at Kumar Post on September 11. Ultimately, they reached their base camp on September 15.
Siachen Glacier, by scaling up to the Kumar Post at an altitude of 15,632 feet. The team with disabilities was trained and led by CLAW Global, a team of Special Forces veterans who had left the service due to disabilities.
It was not a cake walk for Irfan Ahmad to reach the summit as they had to dare the harsh climate, unseen and untouched terrain without the sense of sight.
“Before the expedition was flagged off, we had to go through rigorous training including 20-kilometre walk,” Irfan told Kashmir Reader, adding that it was only because of this training that they conquered the summit.
It was not just an expedition for Irfan Ahmad but an impetus to the self-respect for Irfan who never took his disability as his weakness but braving all odds to live a life of self-dignity and independently.
“The main motto of the expedition was that a disabled person can do tough things like scaling the summits and sky diving,” he said, adding that besides it is an eye opener for the people who think that disabled people cannot be even engaged in performing small chores in the offices, Irfan Ahmad told Kashmir Reader.
He advised parents with disabled children not to underestimate their abilities and suggested to the disabled not to get discouraged by their disability but making their disability a strength so that they too could achieve things that a normal person could, he said.
The whole team of Land world record expedition felicitated Irfan on achieving the feet.
Irfan along with other fellow mountaineers and training team were given a warm welcome at Dusoo Pampore parents, relatives, neighbours and other locals for bringing laurels for the town.
“We are very happy for our son having scaled highest battlefield and we are proud of him,” his Father, Abdul Sattar Mir told Kashmir Reader, adding that his team members also visited his house.
He added that his son is blind from birth but despite that he did made us proud by getting selected in national blind cricket team and for scaling a height of 16000 meters.
While talking to Kashmir Reader, Retired Major Arun Prakash Ambati Co-founded CLAW Global said that Irfan can be an inspiration to the disabled persons of Jammu and Kashmir.
He said that the land world record expedition was a part of “Operation Blue Freedom Triple World Records” being undertaken by CLAW Global.

BILAL HABIB