Indian Blind Football Team

The Indian Blind Football Federation (IBFF) formed in 2016, has spear headed the Blind Football movement in the country and the National Team. IBFF is an independent body developing the sport of blind football among the blind in the country. IBFF is affiliated to IBSA New Delhi (Indian Blind Sports Association) and works under the Paralympic Committee of India (NPC of India) to promote and develop Blind Football in India. IBFF started a full-fledged training blind football Academy (the only Para Sports Academy) in Kochi, India since Sept 2017. The Indian team is ranked 28th in the world and fifth in Asia, and is taking strides to develop the women's and partially sighted game. India has the largest population of blind with approximately 15 million. IBFF aims to promote Blind Football in the country and create an inclusive atmosphere for members of the blind community from all walks of life. Sports can be utilized as a tool for social development by exploiting its ripple effect potential. As both male and female members of the blind community are given the opportunity to excel on national and international platforms, it creates awareness about the sporting abilities of the blind and in turn empowers other members of the community. This unique project taken up by IBFF aims to expand the grassroots network across the country and to get help India qualify to the Paralympics in the future. In addition to football, IBFF helps with vocational skills training helping train players to be job-ready by taking advantage of current technological solutions. This allows them to be self-sufficient beyond football and seek employment in multiple fields as tele-callers, back office computer officers, telemarketing roles, reflexologists and musicians.This training helps level the playing ground for the blind community to enter the job market and hence creates a more inclusive social atmosphere for them.