New Delhi: The Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) is organising the ‘National Para Championships’ for athletes with disabilities. The national level championships will comprise two landmark events viz. XIV National Para Powerlifting Championships (14th – 15th March 2015) and XV National Athletics Championships (20th – 22nd March 2015) at the Weightlifting Auditorium in JLN Stadium Complex in New Delhi and Janhit Para Sports Grounds (Madhuban, Bapudham) in Ghaziabad respectively.
Krishan Pal Gurjar , Minister of State, Social Justice & Empowerment and. Ratan Singh, President, Para Athletic Federation of India will be the Chief Guest and the Guest of Honour respectively at the inauguration of the XIV National Para Powerlifting Championships. The inaugural ceremony and competition events of the championships that commence today will be covered LIVE by Doordarshan.
Over hundred para powerlifters will be participating in different weight categories of the event and more than five hundred para athletes are likely to participate in the upcoming athletics championships. The national event will provide a unique platform for athletes to compete with the nation’s best, improve their performance and showcase their inspirational will, courage and determination to the entire nation.
“Our parapower lifters have been training hard and hope to raise the standard of performance by setting new records. We have received 107 confirmed entries from 18 state federations and are likely to witness some highly competitive and thrilling performances. With athletes like Rajinder Singh Rahelu (bronze medalist in 2004 Athens Olympics and silver medalist 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games) taking part in the competition, the event will be a star studded affair”, says Munishwar Vijay (Chief Para Powerlifting Coach, India).
A staggering 208 lakh persons in India have been battling disability (58th round of the National Sample Survey (NSS), 2002). The Government of India is therefore committed to ensuring equal opportunities for persons with disabilities and harnessing their full participation in nation-building. PCI supports the Government in its efforts and aspires to make ‘sport’ a vehicle ‘for positive development’ through the National Para Championships that promise creation and expansion of sports opportunities for persons with disabilities and spreading awareness about the Paralympic Movement.
Rajesh Tomar, President, PCI says, “I truly believe in the strength of human character and an unfailing will to break barriers. With a positive attitude, excellent support system and an athlete-centric approach, anything can be achieved in the area of para sports. We at PCI, are trying to create more and more opportunities for our para athletes and encourage the larger community to join us in our mission. An accepting, aware and a sensitized community can ensure that persons with disabilities feel included, empowered and enabled. I welcome everyone to come and cheer for our athletes at the National Para Championships and in the events that follow.”
The National Para Championships will further ensure that only the best performing athletes are chosen to represent India at the First Indian Open Para Games (IOPG) that will be held from 2nd to 9th May, 2015 in New Delhi. The IOPG are being organized with the collaboration of the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI), the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilties (Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment) and the Department of Sports (Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports).
The current national championships will also equip PCI with the necessary skills required to host the prestigious international event in May. The IOPG will comprise six sports disciplines that will be played across six venues located in New Delhi. India will welcome para athletes and teams from all over the world and is all set to successfully host the esteemed event. Supported by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), the IOPG offers PCI a golden chance to help its para athletes improve their performance, get classified, compete with the best and prepare for Rio 2016!
The IOPG will be guided by the spirit of the ‘Paralympic Movement’ that embraces and epitomizes the finest in human endeavour and connects sport with social awareness thereby promoting the development of a more equitable society with respect and equal opportunities for all individuals.