Skip to main content
  • Accessibility
  • Headlines
  • Coronavirus-News
  • Get-Hooked
  • Technology
  • Education
  • Employment
  • Parasports
  • Ask Bhavna
  • NHBrandView
  • Independent Living
  • Lifestyle
  • NH Videos
×
Newz Hook – Changing Attitudes towards Disability Logo
  • Stories
  • Videos
  • Inclusive
  • NH Voice
  • Login
COVID-19 Notification by Government in Accessible Format

Accessibility Tools

Text Size:

Contrast Scheme:

  • C
  • C

Reset

  • Home
  • Parasports
  • Wheelchair basketball helped J&K’s Mohammed Rafiee Parray transform his life

Wheelchair basketball helped J&K’s Mohammed Rafiee Parray transform his life

Mohammed Rafee Parray, wheelchair basketball player
Parasports November 23, 2020
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)

Living in a conflict torn region like Jammu and Kashmir is hard enough. Living there with a disability can be even more challenging. Mohammad Rafee Parray has overcome this to make his mark on the national wheelchair basketball scene.

Mohammad Rafee Parray was born with a facial tumour, caused due to abnormal growth of blood vessels. Surgeons in Srinagar, where he is based, said it was too dangerous to remove.

Things were hard enough when in 2010, at the age of 23 Rafee became paralysed after falling from the roof of his house.

“I thought it was just a fracture that could be fixed, and things would be back to normal”, recalls Rafee, who is now 32. “I was not aware that I have to live out the rest of my life in wheelchair. I went into depression”.

Paralysed after fall

Three years later, Rafee discovered basketball when he joined a team at the Voluntary Medicare Society (VMS) in Srinagar. This is an organisation dedicated to helping people with disabilities.

Playing wheelchair in a basketball was not as easy as it sounds.

At first, it was very tough for me to play the game in a wheelchair, but I told myself, I must keep going with my life. Basketball has played a huge role in changing my miserable life into a happy one. – Mohammed Rafee Parray, Wheelchair basketball player

In 2015, seven boys, including Rafee, were sent by VMS for a workshop of the Wheelchair Basketball Federation of India (WBFI). Here, the boys were introduced to sports wheelchairs. Rafee was able to transform his game to an altogether new level. His skills and attitude got him noticed.

“I found Rafee’s attitude to be so positive”, says Madhavi Latha, Co-founder, WBFI. “His spirit is incredible given the many issues he has overcome. He is not only a great player but gets along well with fallow players”.

Captain of J&K team

Rafee’s formidable skills on the basketball court have earned him a place on the national side. He is also the captain of the J&K Wheelchair Basketball team.

The achievements have helped him overcome the early setbacks.

“Playing and representing my state at the national level has helped realise that things are possible even in a wheelchair. It may happen in a different way than I imagined but it is possible”, he says.

Rafee spends his spare time helping people with spinal injuries. “Living in a state like J&K is very challenging for athletes with disabilities, he says. “Our state is way backward in terms of accessibility and implementation of disability laws. This makes it tough for a disabled athlete to practice and improve his or her game”.

Madhavi Latha Believes these circumstances make Rafee and his fellow J&K players’ even more remarkable. “Challenges exist for all disabled athletes in India, but they are much worse for these players. Their attitude is really amazing, and they should get more opportunities with accessible infrastructure so they can become an asset for India”.

Rafee hopes to motivate more disabled people to participate in sports by sharing his story.

“Sports is especially important for people with disabilities, not just for rehabilitation but also growth and psychological wellbeing. It helps eliminates negative emotions and instils discipline, team spirit and friendship”.

Also Read:

  • India’s wheelchair basketball players show their creative side in national challenge

Support us to make NewzHook Sustainable – Make a Contribution Today

We need your continued support to enable us work towards Changing Attitudes towards Disability. Help us in our attempt to share the voices of people with disabilities that enable them to participate in the society on an equal footing!

Contribute to Newz Hook

NH Videos

Healing pain through art - Dr. Anubha Mahajan, Founder Chronic Pain India

Read more on Newz Hook

  • Accessibility,Independent Living
    New batches of Online Group Yoga for persons with blindness/lo-vision

Contribue to Newz Hook |Disability news. Support us to make NewzHook Sustainable – Make a Contribution Today.

Newsletter

 Subscribe to our Newsletter

Want to feature disability stories or share disability news with the disabled community? Write to:

editor@newzhook.com

Related News

Accessibility

New batches of Online Group Yoga for persons with blindness/lo-vision

Newz Hook - Accessible News

Download App Now!

Videos

View More

Get-hooked

#LovePossible - What happened when Satendra Singh met his Paro

Get-hooked

Kerala government campaign on importance of mental health has a strong message for parents

Get-hooked

#ChampionsWithCP – Miranda House student Anushka Tiwari aims to make the world a better place for people with disabilities

Get-hooked

Deaf actor Abhinaya looks forward to global release of first English feature film

Newz Hook Logo

About Newz Hook

Newz Hook | Disability News - media site focusing on Disability Stories and Changing Attitudes towards Disability globally. We highlight disability news, offer inclusive solutions and create accessible collaborations. Our focus is to have Inclusion Champions from across the globe who will share disability stories and news.
Lets come together to change attitudes towards disability!

Newz Hook is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Follow us on:

Related Links

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Partner with Newz Hook
  • Embed Newz Hook Timeline
  • Affiliate disclosure
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Contribute to Newz Hook

Our Awards

Zero Project Award Winner 2018
Back To Top
© 2019 All Right Reserved. Inclusive News India Private Limited.

Ask Bhavna

All fields are mandatory unless specified as optional.