Para Sports
Sports Authority of India set to induct 200 para-athletes to NCOES
Sports Authority of India (SAI) will induct para-athletes into the National Center of Excellence across the country.
India recorded the best-ever show at the Asian Para Games
In a further boost to para-sport in the country, Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Anurag Singh Thakur has announced the induction of 200 para-sport athletes, including 97 female athletes, for 2024-25 across 10 disciplines in the SAI National Centres of Excellence across the country.
“This step to induct 200 para-sport athletes reflects the Government’s steadfast commitment towards promoting inclusivity and excellence in Para Sports,” he said. “I am confident that these athletes will continue to contribute to the making of Bharat as a sporting powerhouse.”
Anurag Singh Thakur said it was a natural extension of the good work done by NCOEs in Gandhinagar and Bengaluru in providing specialized training to para-sport athletes.
“We have now included sports such as Cycling, Fencing, Judo, Canoeing and Kayaking, Rowing and Taekwondo. The NCOEs will have expert coaches and be equipped with enhanced facilities,” he said.
The Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports said the success of the inaugural Khelo India Para Games in New Delhi was a significant step towards providing equal opportunities for all athletes.
“This initiative of inducting 200 Para Sports athletes in NCOEs will give further momentum to the evolution of para-sports within the sports ecosystem,” he said.
India returned with its best hauls from both the most recent Paralympic Games and Asian Para Games.
Indian para-athletes won 19 medals, including 5 gold, 8 silver, and 6 bronze, in the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games and backed that up with 111 medals, including 29 gold, 31 silver, and 51 bronze, in the Hangzhou Asian Para Games last year with the medals coming from a dozen disciplines.
The break-up of the 200 para-sports athletes across disciplines in the NCOEs is as follows:
Archery- 68 (35 males, 33 females), Athletics- 36 (18, 18), Cycling- 20 (10, 10), Fencing- 8 (5, 3), Judo- 14 (7, 7), Para Powerlifting- 10 (5, 5), Canoeing & Kayaking and Rowing- 6 (4, 2), Shooting- 20 (10, 10) and Taekwondo- 18 (9, 9).
