Sindhur Gollanapalli :

It rained gifts for P.V.Sindhu, from Telugu State Governments on her winning Silver medal in 2016 Olympics. The Chief Ministers of the two states boasted about their governments providing facilities and encouragement to the sports sector and granted more funds for sports development. They also insisted that educational institutions should make sports mandatory during schooling. In this scenario, it is very unfortunate to see none from these states participating in 2016 Paralympics.

While NGO GOSports Foundation should be appreciated for supporting the present Paralympics participants, at the same time it is a pity that the two State Governments ignored 2016 Paralympics. Speaking on this Padmaa, a spinal cord injured, member of Iampossable NGO said that it would be next to impossible to seek support for development of sports for the handicapped in states where it is difficult to find special facilities like wheel chair paths, toilets, car parking.

Sweety Bagga, Founder President of Iampossable NGO said that they started a basketball team for spinal cord injured people. “We are working with the aim of participating in 2020 Paralympics. We are happy that the Government has provided space at the Kotla Vijay Bhasker Reddy Indoor stadium for our practice. We have also requested for the provision of sports compatible wheel chairs, which are yet to be approved”, she highlighted.

The 15th Summer Paralympics hosted by Brazil at Rio De Janeiro began on Wednesday. The timing also marks the first time that the summer Paralympics is being held during the winter. This session of Paralympics will witness 23 sports disciplines including the two new sports - canoeing and the Para triathlon. A Samba-inspired dance by double amputee snowboarder and actress Amy Purdy of America marked the opening ceremony.

Devendra Jhajharia was the flag bearer of India. A total of 19 athletes, 16 men and 3 women, are participating in various sports, making India’s largest ever delegation in Paralympics.