From being abandoned at a shelter to making the India-A Divyang cricket team, Sendhwa's Lokendra Arya overcomes adversity to secure his national selection.

 In a major boost for para-sports in Madhya Pradesh, Lokendra Arya, a 26-year-old disabled cricketer from Mordad village in Sendhwa block, has been selected for the India-A team by the Disabled Cricket Control Board of India (DCCBI). Arya is scheduled to feature in the upcoming Kesari Divyang Tournament-2026, which will be held in Yamunanagar, Haryana, from June 13 to June 15.

The right-handed batsman, who is affected by polio in his left leg, currently captains the Satpura Division (Rural) team under the Divyang Cricket Association of Madhya Pradesh.

Early struggles and shelter home years

Arya’s journey to the national level has been defined by severe personal and financial hardships. After being affected by polio during his childhood, his family found it difficult to support him. In 2006, his father left him at the Padmashri Kanta Divyang Seva Trust Ashram in Jhakar.

Arya spent 12 years living and studying at the shelter home. It was during this period, while playing casual matches with other residents of the ashram, that he developed a serious interest in the sport. He continued to pursue cricket even after leaving the institutional care home.

Overcoming social stigma in Mordad

Returning to his village or dealing with local peers brought fresh challenges. According to Arya, critics and villagers often mocked his ambitions, suggesting that cricket was unsuited for someone with his physical limitations. Many advised him to abandon sports entirely to focus on finding a desk job.

"People used to laugh when they saw me holding a bat," Arya recalled to local reporters. He chose to use the skepticism as motivation, transitioning seriously to standard leather-ball cricket in 2021.

Lack of infrastructure and kits

The breakthrough in his cricketing career came in 2021 when he connected with sports coordinator Brajesh Dwivedi, who helped integrate local talent into the state’s formal disabled cricket structures. This eventually led to the formation of the Satpura Division rural team.

The initial days were plagued by a severe lack of resources. The team had no access to proper cricket kits or dedicated training grounds in Sendhwa. To sustain their practice, Arya and his teammates pooled their limited personal funds to purchase two basic cricket kits.

Training at Niwali Sports Complex

With no proper grounds nearby, the players traveled nearly 20 kilometers from Sendhwa to the Niwali Sports Complex every week. After securing official permissions from local sports authorities, the team trained for several hours every Saturday and Sunday to maintain match fitness.

Celebrations in Sendhwa block

News of Arya's selection to the India-A squad triggered widespread celebrations across Mordad village and broader Sendhwa. Local residents, relatives, and fellow players have been visiting his residence to congratulate him and his family. Local sports body representatives noted that his selection highlights the raw sporting talent present in the tribal-dominated Barwani district, despite the visible deficit in rural sports infrastructure.