Uttar Pradesh will be the first state in the country to have a stadium for the differently abled (divyang) players in Lucknow to ensure these sportspersons ample opportunity to hone their talent and showcase it at international level.
Besides, the government is also mulling to organise competitions on the lines of Asiad and Paralympics of international level for them.
“A grand stadium has already been prepared for the differently abled sportspersons at Shakuntala Mishra Divyang Rehabilitation University and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will inaugurate the complex. This stadium for the special athletes will be the first of its kind in the entire country. International level sports events like Paralympics and Asiad can also be organised in this stadium,” SMDRU Registrar Amit Kumar Singh said.
“Floodlights have also been installed in the stadium for night games and sporting events will be broadcast live. Arrangements will be made to play several sports like badminton, wrestling and basketball in the stadium. The stadium has a high-ended gymnasium and an athletics track. Football matches can also be organised in it,” Singh said.
“In addition to it, a medical college for the differently abled sportspersons will be established in Lucknow. A proposal in this regard has been made by the Divyang Welfare department and sent to the government or its approval. There would be research and study on the causes of disability in the medical college, as well as for their proper treatment," said Divyang Welfare Minister Anil Rajbhar in Lucknow on Saturday.