UK Blind Baseball Association

02/06/2026

🌟 From Isolation to Inspiration – Tokeer’s Journey 🌟

In his early to late 20s, Tokeer was living a fully active and independent life. He used to drive, played cricket at a good level, enjoyed football, and was passionate about sport in every form.

But gradually, his sight began to deteriorate due to RP (Retinitis Pigmentosa) Over the following years, everyday life became increasingly challenging.

Then came the COVID lockdown period, which brought even more isolation. During this time, Tokeer began relying more on adapted equipment, accessibility tools, and assistive technology — including software designed to support blind and partially sighted people with independence and daily tasks.

Despite adapting to these life changes, something was still missing.

Sport had always been a huge part of who he was, yet he had very little awareness of the opportunities available for blind and partially sighted people.

That’s when he discovered British Blind Sport.

After visiting their website, Tokeer found his nearest club — the Lancashire Lions — and made a phone call that would completely change his life.

That one step opened the door to a whole new world.

Through the club, Tokeer rediscovered his love for sport and explored opportunities he never knew existed — including blind cricket, goalball, and eventually blind baseball.

At first, he wasn’t sure about blind baseball.

But it didn’t take long before he realised how exciting, unique, and addictive the sport really was.

“It suited me perfectly,” he says.
“I love explosive sports — hitting the ball, sprinting to bases, diving in the field, and making plays. It’s like a crossover between cricket and goalball.”

And his message to anyone unsure about trying it?

“Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it. Blind baseball is one of the most enjoyable sports out there and covers so many aspects of fitness.”

His passion and commitment quickly turned into success.

In 2023, Tokeer achieved a huge milestone when he was selected to represent Great Britain at the European Cup in Italy — a proud and unforgettable moment in his journey.

Now, he’s focused on giving others the same opportunity he once needed.

This year, Tokeer will launch his own team — the Greater Manchester Falcons — in the National Cup, with a mission to help blind and partially sighted people reconnect with sport, confidence, and community.

“I want to make sure nobody feels the isolation I once felt,” he says.
“There are opportunities out there, and sport can completely change your life.”

For Tokeer, blind baseball is about far more than fitness.

⚾ It’s movement.
⚾ It’s teamwork.
⚾ It’s friendship.
⚾ It’s confidence.
⚾ It’s independence.
⚾ It’s community.

Most importantly, it’s proof that sight loss does not stop ambition, passion, or purpose. 💙



British Blind Sport Aibxc WBSC Europe Sport England The National Lottery Community Fund Lancashire Lions VISC

27/05/2026

🌟 PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: AJ’S BLIND BASEBALL JOURNEY 🌟 AJ, who has a sight condition known as Stargardt, moved to the UK just 2 and a half years ago from South Africa . Since joining Blind Baseball in December with the Blackburn group, she has impressed everyone with her skill, determination, and positive attitude. ⚾ AJ says the sport has given her a reason to get out of the house, meet new and interesting people, and build confidence both on and off the field. She’s looking forward to competing this year for the East Lancs Legends in the UK Blind Baseball League. 💪 Session by session, AJ is becoming more active, improving her fitness, and growing her confidence. She’s focused on doing her best for her team and is quickly establishing herself as an all-round great athlete. 👏 It’s wonderful to see new players like AJ participating, embracing challenges, and adding their own stories to the sport. We’re all excited to watch her shine this season!

Aibxc British Blind Sport Sport England The National Lottery Community Fund

23/05/2026

BBC Northwest coverage of our second league fixture last weekend.

Using sport to empower and inspire visually impaired people ❤️🙏❤️

Aibxc WBSC Europe WBSC British Blind Sport Lancashire Lions VISC Sport England The National Lottery Performance Fluids Ltd The Primary Club British Baseball Federation (BBF) BaseballSoftballUK (BSUK) MCRactive GM Moving

17/05/2026

UKBBA Blind Baseball League – Game 2 Result:
⚾ East Lancs Legends 0 – 4 Lancashire Lions ⚾

A much closer contest than the scoreline suggests, as East Lancs Legends showed plenty of promise in their first game of the season. Consistent hitting and smart running from Salman Shaike and Salim Patel, alongside an impressive debut from AJ, saw the Legends reach base on several occasions. However, the Lions’ defence held firm, with East Lancs twice narrowly missing home plate to score.
After a tense and tightly fought opening innings, Lancashire Lions broke the deadlock in the second. Zahid Mahmood, supported by runner Zion Orire and MVP Sheraz Chohan, helped the Lions put two important runs on the board.
The Legends continued to battle throughout the third and fourth innings and came agonisingly close to scoring, but Salim and AJ were left stranded on base as the Lions edged key moments. Lancashire added two further runs in the third innings through Zahid and Abu to extend their lead.
As the drizzle turned into heavier rain, the umpires made the decision to abandon the game in the fourth innings for safety reasons. With the required minimum of three innings completed by both teams, the result stands. The Lions now move to the top of the table, boosted by the bonus point earned in their opening game.
🏆 MVP: Sheraz Chohan (Lancashire Lions)
👏 Congratulations to Lancashire Lions!
➡️ Next up: East Lancs Legends host GM Gladiators.

Photo shows the result.

Lancashire Lions VISC British Blind Sport Sport England Performance Fluids Ltd The National Lottery

16/05/2026

2nd game of the season and East Lancs start the campaign against Lancashire Lions VISC looking for their first wim following a defeat in the first game against GM Gladiators

⚾️🔊 GAME DAY IS COMING! 🔊⚾️

Come along and support an incredible day of Blind Baseball as East Lancs Legends take on Lancashire Lions V.I.S.C.!

📅 Saturday 16th May 2026
🕧 12:30PM Start
📍 Cheetham Hill Sports Club, Manchester

This is more than just a game — it’s about community, inclusion, passion, and making some noise from the sidelines! 💜

Bring your friends, bring your family, and help us create an amazing atmosphere for both teams. All welcome!


UK Blind Baseball AssociationLancashire Lions VISC

15/05/2026

Game 2 of the UKBBA Blind Baseball 2026 Season tomorrow with East Lancs Legends taking on Lancashire Lions VISC
Game starts at 12:30pm and you can watch live via our You Tube Channel

https://youtube.com/?si=-ej_jpH0na87bUU2
Lancashire Lions VISC
Aibxc British Blind Sport Sport England The National Lottery Community Fund

UKBBA is the organisation set up to promote and deliver the sport of blind baseball across the UK.

11/05/2026

Article from Aibxc

BLIND BASEBALL CLINIC IN THE UNITED KINGDOM: GREAT SUCCESS AT NEW COLLEGE WORCESTER

The blind baseball clinic organized on 30th April at New College Worcester concluded with great enthusiasm. The event, held at the request of UKBBA (UK Blind Baseball Association), featured the participation of AIBXC, represented by coach Michele Bianchi, together with the UKBBA staff and Pakistan national team player Sarwar Ghulam, with the aim of promoting and raising awareness of this inclusive sport, which continues to grow internationally.

During the day, teachers and students had the opportunity to learn more about the social value of blind baseball, a sport capable of breaking down barriers and demonstrating how blind athletes can compete at a high level in an inclusive, dynamic, and engaging environment.

The program opened with a session dedicated to the history and international development of blind baseball, presenting AIBXC’s mission to spread the sport across all continents, with the long-term goal of achieving Paralympic recognition. The origins of blind baseball were also explained, highlighting how Alfredo Meli, founder of the Italian Association of Baseball for the Blind, created an accessible version of baseball while preserving its core principles.

Participants then attended practical on-field demonstrations, directly experiencing the dynamics of the game and the technical solutions that make blind baseball fully accessible to blind and visually impaired athletes.

In the afternoon, the college students took part in practical workshops, actively participating in the activities and showing great enthusiasm in learning the fundamentals of the sport. The experience allowed the students to concretely understand the value of inclusion through team sports.

The visit concluded with UKBBA donating a complete equipment kit to the college, including gloves, bats, sound bases, whistles, and other technical materials needed to continue developing the project within the school.

The staff of New College Worcester expressed great satisfaction with the initiative, emphasizing the importance of projects like this in promoting new sporting opportunities for blind and visually impaired students.

Blind baseball activity in the United Kingdom is already well developed and continues to expand. The British movement currently includes several active teams across the country, as well as a competitive national team that won a prestigious silver medal at the most recent European Championships. The hope is that initiatives such as this clinic will further contribute to the growth of the movement and increase the number of players and participants in the United Kingdom.

WBSC Europe British Blind Sport Sport England The National Lottery Community Fund

03/05/2026

Opening Game of the UKBBA 2026 Season

🔥 WHAT. A. GAME. 🔥

The 2026 season kicks off in style with a thrilling 7-inning battle!

Final Score:
Greater Manchester Gladiators 7️⃣ – 6️⃣ Lancashire Lions

After trailing 5–3, the Gladiators fought back in the 5th and 7th innings—capped off by a walk-off 2-run Home Run from debutant Visrat Kumar Bhatti 💥

💪 Defensive heroics from MVP Arslan Sabir (2 outs in the final inning) sealed the win.

⚾ Key Stats:
HRs:
• Visrat Kumar Bhatti x1 (GMG)
• Sarwar Ghulam x2 (Lions)

👏 Big credit to the Lions for a huge 5-run 3rd inning and a performance full of fight—revenge will be on their minds!

🙏 Massive thanks to all officials, volunteers, and supporters who made the game possible.

📅 Next up: 16th May – East Lancs vs Lions

🚀 Blind Baseball is back—and it’s only getting better!

Lancashire Lions VISC Aibxc British Blind Sport Sport England The National Lottery

Photo 1 is of the score and scorers saying that GMG won 7-6 against LLVISC

Photo 2 is a GMG team photo with players in a group on the field

Photo 3 is a LLVISC team photo with players in a group on the field.

02/05/2026

The first game today of the UKBBA Blind Baseball Season starts with a game between defending champions Greater Manchester Gladiators and Lancashire Lions VISC
Game starts at 12:30pm and you can watch live via our You Tube Channel

https://youtube.com/?si=-ej_jpH0na87bUU2

Aibxc British Blind Sport Sport England The National Lottery Community Fund

UKBBA is the organisation set up to promote and deliver the sport of blind baseball across the UK.

01/05/2026

New College Worcester Welcomes Blind Baseball Associations and Coaches to Inspire Future Generations

This week, New College Worcester (NCW) was delighted to welcome blind baseball specialists and players from the International Blind Baseball Association (AIBXC), who travelled all the way from Italy, alongside coaches from UK Blind Baseball, to introduce and share their knowledge of this exciting and growing sport.

NCW’s PE Department were thrilled to host the visitors and learn more about blind baseball, a sport that is expanding internationally. AIBXC has a clear mission to spread blind baseball across all continents, with the ultimate ambition of seeing the sport recognised at the Paralympic Games.

Staff spent the morning learning about the social impact and global reach of blind baseball, exploring how the sport challenges assumptions by enabling blind athletes to compete at a high level. Sessions highlighted how blind baseball builds strong communities and supports both physical and mental wellbeing through inclusive team sport. Staff also learned about the vital role of AIBXC and its partner organisations, who provide guidance, equipment, starter kits, clinics and ongoing support to help make setting up blind baseball teams as accessible and straightforward as possible, working closely with blind associations throughout the process.

Mrs Price, Head of PE at NCW, said:

“It was fantastic to welcome such knowledgeable and passionate professionals to NCW. Blind baseball is a brilliant example of how sport can be truly inclusive, and our staff and students gained so much from learning about the game, its impact and the opportunities it creates for blind and vision impaired athletes.”

The origins of blind baseball were also shared, tracing the sport back to Alfredo Meli, its inventor and the founder of the Italian Blind Baseball Association. His vision was to preserve the core elements of traditional baseball while adapting the game to ensure it was fully accessible for blind players. The presentation showcased how blind baseball is now played worldwide, with established teams and developing projects across Europe, the Americas, Asia and Africa, demonstrating the sport’s rapidly growing international presence and impact.

Following the presentations, staff headed out onto the field to watch demonstrations and get hands‑on experience of the sport for themselves.

The afternoon then saw the next generation of players – our students – take to the field for hands‑on workshops. Students thoroughly enjoyed learning the new sport and discovering how the traditional game of baseball has been thoughtfully adapted into the inclusive sport of blind baseball. They had the opportunity to watch demonstrations, ask questions and get involved themselves, gaining first‑hand experience of how the game works.

The visit concluded on a real high, with NCW being over the moon to receive an incredible blind baseball kit from UK Blind Baseball, including mitts, bats, clappers, whistles and bases, giving the College the tools to continue developing the sport with students.

A special thank you goes to everyone from AIBXC and UK Blind Baseball, who went well above and beyond to share their expertise, passion and knowledge. Their commitment to spreading blind baseball and inspiring future generations made the visit a truly memorable experience for staff ad students alike.

Report from NCW

Aibxc British Blind Sport Lancashire Lions VISC Lancashire Lions VISC Sport England The National Lottery Community Fund

Picture 1 is NCW staff holding an equipment starter bag donated by UKBBA with coaches Sheraz Lion Chohan Ghulam Sarwar and Michele Bianchi stood in a field in the sun

Picture 2 is the coaches stood in a field with NCW students

Picture 3 is of students stood in a field ready to practice with coaches

Picture 4 is of a female student holding a baseball bat in her right hand with a ball in her left hand ready to hit

Picture 5 is of a group of students lined up in the field with bats and balls in hand ready to hit

Picture 6 is of a male student stood in a field ready to hit a ball with bat in hand