look news india
New Delhi, Aug 26 (HS): Ahead of the Paris Paralympics 2024, Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) President Devendra Jhajharia on Sunday lauded the provision of having SWAYAM (a non-profit initiative of the Sminu Jindal Charitable Trust) as the accessibility partner for the contingent and said that the “pain” and difficulties faced by differently-abled athletes have now been resolved.
Over 20 athletes from the Indian contingent for Paralympics 2024 left for Paris from the Delhi airport on Sunday. They are heading to the host country with high hopes, the best wishes of a billion countrymen and the support of all government and private partners that will motivate the athletes to surpass the record of 19 medals set at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics.
Speaking to reporters, Jhajharia spoke about PCI's efforts to engage itself as the accessibility partner for the Indian contingent for the Paris Paralympics, aimed at easing the travel and dignity of the athletes during local movement to the airport, training facilities.
Jhajharia said, “This is a message in itself. The pain of Divyang athletes has been understood. Work is being done on accessible transport. This is showing the country a new direction as to what Divyang athletes need.”
The PCI president said that accessibility is important for athletes and once they get it right, it gives athletes more confidence.
“Accessibility is important for athletes. They have to travel a lot. If they get accessibility, they feel more confident and mentally better,” he said.
SWAYAM has donated special accessible vehicles that can accommodate wheelchairs and the athletes do not have to get off their wheelchairs to get into the vehicle. Several eminent para-athletes like table tennis stars Bhavina Patel and Sonalben Patel, para-badminton players Manoj Sarkar, Manisha Ramdas, gold medallist Krishna Nagar, para-athletes Sachin Sarjerao and Sakshi Kasana were at the airport on Sunday to catch their flight to Paris.
At the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics, India won a total of 19 medals including five gold medals, eight silver and six bronze medals.