As the Khelo India Para Sports event approaches, Maharashtra is set to field a team of 66 athletes, including Asian Games medalists, marking its debut in the tournament. Vijay Santhan will lead the team, supported by Uday Joshi as the nodal officer.
Scheduled to kick off on December 10 in New Delhi, the first Khelo India Para tournament is a collaborative initiative by the Sports Ministry and the Sports Authority of India (SAI). Delhi is ready to host over 1500 players from 32 states and Union Territories across three Sports Authority of India venues: Indira Gandhi Stadium, Jawaharlal Nehru Shooting Range at Tughlaqabad, and Yam.
Six sports are on Maharashtra’s agenda for the event: Para Athletics, Para Badminton, Para Table Tennis, Para Archery, Para Weightlifting, and Para Shooting. Notably, the state team will not participate in Percy Football.
The Maharashtra contingent will travel with a support staff of 16 members, managed by Arun Patil. The Sports Ministry and SAI have facilitated air-conditioned train travel (three-tier AC) for the athletes. In a commendable move, Sports Minister Sanjay Bansode has taken the initiative to enhance player comfort, opting to send all players to Delhi by plane.
The Khelo India Para Sports event is a commendable initiative fostering inclusivity and showcasing the determination of para athletes.
