Arun John Kolluri
Hyderabad: A generator accident that left him with 90% disability in 2011 changed Arun John Kolluri’s life forever. Fifteen years later, the 37-year-old from Warangal has achieved a milestone he once could only dream of — becoming the first cricketer from Telangana to be selected for the Indian wheelchair cricket squad.
But during my rehabilitation at a spinal cord centre in Chandigarh in 2020, I learned to regain my independence,” he said. Another wheelchair cricketer from Andhra Pradesh, who came across Arun’s videos online, later referred him to Madhu for training in 2021. Initially, I was hesitant to train him, but gradually, we began training and managed to gather around 10 players in Telangana in 2021,” Madhu recalled, adding that Arun played a crucial role in taking the Telangana team to the nationals.
Representing India is a great honour, and I am truly grateful for this opportunity,” he said. “We visited rehabilitation centres across the state to identify players and encouraged them to take up the sport, laying the foundation for the Telangana Differently Abled Wheelchair Cricket Association (TDWCA),” he said. Arun’s coach Sadhuvala Madhu from CBC Church Ground, Warangal, said his selection was a proud moment for wheelchair cricket in Telangana. Madhu said Arun was initially the only source of inspiration for wheelchair cricketers in the region, but the sport has since grown, with nine to ten players from Telangana taking it up.
India began the three-match T20 series on a winning note, defeating Sri Lanka by seven wickets in the opening match. A spinal cord injury survivor and businessman, Arun has also represented the India-B team in the past. “Being selected as a reserve player for the Indian wheelchair cricket squad is a moment of immense pride and happiness for me. It reflects my hard work, dedication and passion for cricket. His journey back to an active life was not easy. “After the accident, I went into depression. It was during this period that Arun connected with other Telangana players through social media and began working towards building a wheelchair cricket team in Telangana. He recalled that Arun’s journey into wheelchair cricket began during his rehabilitation in Chandigarh, where he learned to be independent and developed an interest in sport. Later, a friend encouraged him to undergo rehab in Chandigarh to improve and his mobility and learn wheelchair skills. He also learned to play wheelchair cricket there. Some are studying, while others work to support their families financially and manage their responsibilities at home,” he added. Beyond cricket, Arun works as a sound engineer, handling professional events such as live band performances, college festivals and school annual days. “I would like to thank the selection committee, TDWCA, Wheelchair Cricket India Association (WCIA) and my coach for their support. My next focus is to prepare both mentally and physically for the series and contribute to the team’s success,” he added.
“Arun was a college cricket captain before the accident. “Many of these players did not know about the sport earlier. Arun, an all-rounder and captain of Telangana’s wheelchair cricket team, has been selected for the India-Sri Lanka wheelchair cricket series, which began in Chennai on Saturday.