The Paralympic movement still faces plenty of challengesin India. Despite the obvious talents, our Government is just not ready toextend to them, the kind of support, it provides to the abled sports persons.
Girisha Hosanagara Nagaraje Gowda clinched asilver medal in high jump to emerge as the sole-medalist for India at theLondon Paralympics. A 10-member Indian squad took part in the showpiecemulti-sports extravaganza for the disabled, resulting in one silver. However, asmall contingent for a huge country like India, tells a story of a country whichdoes not really give due importance todisabled athletes.
Secretary of the Goa Paralympic Association,Sudesh Thakur says, "The support of the government is just not enough. Ifwe have to produce champions in, say for a state like Goa, we will have to setup residential coaching facilities for the disabled. As of now, it is sodifficult to bring the players together for a camp as they stay in differentparts of the state. The government must do much more for the Paralympicmovement. We also need coaches who are fully aware of technical requirements ofthe Paralympic events. We are struggling in this aspect".
The Goa Paralympic Association conducted thestate championship in November last year. One hundred and seventy disabledathletes participated in the competition. Apart from athletes, GPA also hasthree badminton players, two archers, two swimmers, one table tennis player andone wheel-chair tennis player under its ranks. Two badminton players recentlytook part in the nationals in Bangalore.
"The main hurdle for our growth is a lackof awareness. Parents still feel ashamed to bring their disabled child out inthe open. There is nothing to feel down about. The disabled children arementally normal. Their only shortcoming is disability that hampers theirmobility. Parents should encourage their talents" laments Thakur. The factof the matter is that, when an event like Summer Paralympics should be a hugeinspiration for the athletes, administrators and society in general, the lackof coverage reduces it next to nothing.
