Kochi wins Third National Blind Football Tournament

Kochi has won the third edition of the National Blind Football Tournament, beating Bengaluru 1-0 in a closely fought final.

Kochi dominated the match from the start. Gabriel Nongrum scored the only goal of the finals.

Klingson Marak played a good game to win the Best Player of the Finals, while Gabriel won the Golden Boot and Best Player of the Tournament with a total tally of 10 goals.

The event was held by the Indian Blind Football Federation (IBFF), which is India’s first and only academy to offer training in Blind Football to a select team of blind players from across India.

The aim of IBFF is to develop the Indian Blind Football Team, which is ranked world number 29 for the Paralympics.

Blind Football is a fast-paced 5-a-side football played by visually impaired athletes using a ball with a noise-making device inside. It is played on a smaller pitch on an enclosed court.

There is more dribbling and short passing than in the mainstream football. The crowds also stay quiet so that players can hear the ball, their team-mates and opposition players.

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