255-member strong contingent to represent India at Special Olympics World Summer Games
The Hindu
India will be represented by a strong 255-member contingent at the Special Olympics World Summer Games to be held in Berlin, Germany from June 17 to 25.
India will be represented by a strong 255-member contingent at the Special Olympics World Summer Games to be held in Berlin, Germany from June 17 to 25.
The contingent includes 198 athletes, who will participate in 16 disciplines, and unified partners and 57 coaches.
The Special Olympics World Games are the world's largest inclusive sporting event for people with intellectual disabilities.
A total of 7000 athletes and unified partners across 190 countries will compete in 26 disciplines in Berlin.
Before their departure for Berlin on June 12, the Indian athletes will participate in a preparatory camp at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium from June 7 to 11.
Special Olympics Bharat will also organise a special send-off ceremony for the contingent at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Thursday, which will be attended by Sports Minister Anurag Thakur, Women and Child Development and Minority Affairs Minister Smriti Irani, Indian Olympic Association chief P.T. Usha, cricketer Yuvraj Singh and singer Sonu Nigam, among others.
Leading social activist and Special Olympics Bharat chairperson Mallika Nadda expects India to return with an impressive medal haul from Berlin.
Asian Games champion Avinash Sable opened his season in the 3000m steeple chase with a silver in the Portland Track Festival, a World Athletics Continental Tour bronze event, in Oregon on Saturday. He clocked 8:21.85s. Asian champion Parul Chaudhary took the bronze in the women’s 3000m steeple chase in a season-best 9:31.38s. Former Asian bronze medallist Sanjivani Jadhav struck gold in the women’s 10,000m in 32:22.77s, a time which was a second off her personal best, while Seema was sixth in 32:55.91s.