Impressed with the stellar show by the country’s differently-abled sportspersons at the recently-held Rio Paralympics, three Union Ministers on Saturday favoured organising Paralympics in India while calling for more sports facilities and stadiums to encourage players in the sector.
President of Paralympics Committee of India and Minister of State for Urban Development Rao Inderjit Singh proposed that India should host Paralympics.
“Recognising these players for the achievements, what they have done is great, but I feel we should use them as a nucleus to prepare for the Japan Olympics in 2020,” Singh said at an event organised here to felicitate the Rio Paralympics medalists, members of T-20 Asia Cup Indian Blind Cricket Team and Indian Blind Para & Para Judo Team.
Union Sports Minister Vijay Goel agreed with his counterpart as he extended his full cooperation for organising Paralympics in India. He called for equal status to all sports and players.
Goel also declared that all sports facilities and stadiums will be thrown open to encourage sports in the country. He also informed that for recognising and providing platform to talented players, government will soon launch a web portal.
Social Justice Minister Thaawarchand Gehlot said that for promoting sports among the differently-abled, the Centre will establish five National level Disability Sports Centres in separate zones in the country.
Extending his support to organise Paralympics in the country, Gehlot promised all possible help to players with disabilities.
On the occasion, the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan), under Social Justice Ministry presented cash awards of a total of `90 lakh to the Rio Paralympics medalists and `28.5 lakh to 19 members of the Indian Blind Cricket team.
India had best-ever performance at the Rio Paralympic Games till date with a total of 4 medals won till now. India had sent its largest ever delegation in the history of summer paralympic games i.e.19 competitors in 5 sports .
Gold medal winners — Mariyappan Thangavelu, in high jump, and Devendra Jhajharia in javelin throw — shot putter and silver medalist Deepa Malik and Varun Singh Bhati, who won bronze in the high jump were felicitated on the occasion.
Jhajhariya is the first Indian to have clinched two gold medals at the games, which are for athletes with physical or mental disabilities, after coming first in the men’s javelin throw finals. Jhajhariya has also set a new Paralympic world record with his 63.97-meters javelin throw at the Olympic stadium. He won a gold medal in Athens in 2004.
