In this year the TNBFA organized important events and a lot of development took place. Many school studying students also participated.
First Women’s Blind Football Camp
- The First Blind Women’s Blind Football Camp was organized by the IBFF: It was organized from February 21-24 and took place in Kochi, Kerala. Orientation and exhibition matches were conducted during this camp. From TNBFA 5 girls with the coach and escort participated in this camp. All the participants were provided with refreshments. The TNBFA took care of the transportation facilities for the players.
International Women’s Day Program - On March 8, 2021
- International Women’s Day Program: On March 8, 2021, as a part of the International Women’s Day celebration, an exhibition match was conducted in SBOA School. The game was watched eagerly by the staff of the SBOA School which provided 7 blind footballs and jerseys. At the end of the session, all the participants were provided with refreshments. The TNBFA took care of the transportation facilities for the players, as well.
September 10, 11 and 12- 2021
First 3 days residential camp for blind football in Tamilnadu. Demonstration match was played between Maharashtra and Tamilnadu.
- The TNBFA organized a 1to3-days residential blind football camp (September 10-12): This was one of the best events conducted by TNBFA. The TNBFA invited visually impaired players from all over Tamil Nadu. 85 players took part in this camp. TNBFA provided shoes for all the players with jerseys. Every day, in the afternoon a motivation session was organized by the TNBFA, where the topmost visually impaired personalities from various fields gave a pep talk. On the final day of the camp, the Maharashtra Women’s blind football team played against the Tamil Nadu team, in which the TNBFA team won the game 1-0.
- As per the request of IBFF in September, the Men’s and Women’s National Competitions were organized in October 2021.
- Training Camp for the TNBF Team: Selection took place in September. 80 players from Tamil Nadu took part in the selection camp. After the selection process, a 20-day preparatory camp was organized for the selected players. During this camp, highly nutritious food was provided to the selected players.
October 27, 28, 29 and 30- 2021
5th nationals for men and 1st nationals for women was hosted by TNBFA. in Tamilnadu.
- 1st Women’s National and 5thMen’s National Blind Football Tournaments (October 27-30): were held at the Montfort School, St Thomas Mount, Chennai, from 27-10-21 to 30-10-21. This was the first time that a blind football tournament was being held in Tamil Nādu ever since the game became popular in India in 2016. A total of 120 players representing 11 state teams took part in the three-day tournament that was hosted by the Tamil Nādu Blind Football Association with the technical assistance of the Indian Blind Football Association. This was the first ever blind football nationals for women conducted in India. The teams were divided into two pools with two teams from each pool qualifying for the semifinals after the league play. Tamilnadu girls topped their pool in the league play and entered the semifinals lost to IBFF select by 1-0, which had three Tamilnadu players playing for IBFF select. Karnataka got the better of Pondicherry in the penalty shootout in the other semifinal. In the finals, Karnataka beat the IBFF select 1-0, to clinch the title. In the men’s competition, teams were divided into four groups and two teams from each group qualified for the playoff games. Hosts Tamilnadu was drawn into a group that had two times champions Kerala and the IBFF reserves team. In their first game against the fancied former champions Kerala who had four international players in their team, Tamilnadu boys put on a spirited fighting display to hold Kerala to a goalless draw and in their next game beat the IBFF reserves team by one goal to nil and qualified for the quarterfinals for the first time in the Nationals. In the quarterfinals, they came up against the mighty Meghalaya and put up a good fight to hold them goalless in the first half but in the second half, Meghalaya pumped in three goals to end Tamilnadu’s run in the tournament In a tight final game. Meghalaya got the better of Kerala by a 1-0 goal to nil to be crowned as Champions.
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The following players were given individual awards. Promising Youngster Shivam Negi Uttarakhand, Female Sarika Barud Maharashtra Best goalkeeper Sujith Kerala, female Reshma Karthik Karnataka Player of the tournament Anthony Samuel, Kerala female Abhinayshree Tamil Nādu Top Scorer Klingson d Marak Meghalaya, Shwetha M Tamil Nādu Third place -Male Uttarakhand, Female Tamil Nādu Second place – Male Kerala, Female IBFF Select First place - Male Meghalaya, Female Karnataka The awards were distributed by Bro K. K. Thomas the Principal of Montfort school St Thomas Mount, Chennai.