Anurag Thakur launches the theme and jersey of the first Khelo India Para Games, to be organized in Delhi from 10 to 17 December

New Delhi. Praising India’s excellent performance in Para sports in the last few years, Sports Minister Anurag Thakur on Sunday said that the Modi government has changed its thinking regarding Para players and now a new era of Para sports will be ushered in through Khelo India. Thakur said at the launch of the logo, mascot, theme song and jersey of the first Khelo India Para Games to be held in Delhi from December 10 to 17, “19 of our Para athletes participated in Rio Paralympics 2016 and Tokyo Paralympics 2021 Our para players created history by winning 19 medals. After this, a record 111 medals were won in the Hangzhou Para Asian Games. He said, “These figures reflect the changed thinking. The work of changing the thinking was done by the Modi government which called the disabled as Divyang or specially abled. The government did not differentiate between para players and able-bodied players in awards and schemes.

Thakur said, “There was a lack of para sports in Khelo India, which will now be fulfilled.” Khelo India is no longer a game but has now become a people’s movement. 11 Khelo India Games have been organized in the last five years. The first Khelo India Para Games will not be just a competition but will prove to be a celebration of the courage and sportsmanship of these players.” The first Khelo India Para Games to be held at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi Stadium, Karni Singh Shooting Range and Jawahar Lal Nehru Stadium will include participation from 32 states and More than 1400 players from Union Territories will participate. In the first year, competitions in para athletics, shooting, archery, football, badminton, table tennis and weight lifting will be organized. The logo of these games has been kept as ‘Flight of Courage’ and ‘Champions Beyond Limit’ while the sparrow Ujjwala will be its mascot. Its theme song ‘Himmat Dikha, Takt Dikha, Kabhi Ruk Mat, Kabhi Jhook Mat, Chal Khel’ was also launched today.

Thakur said, “I have requested all the state governments to make the sports facilities of the state suitable for para players. In the first year, seven events are being organized in these sports, which will continue to increase further.” He said that his government is committed to making India a ‘superpower’ in sports. He said, “The last two years have been golden for Indian sports. Before the Asian Games, when I said crossing the hundred this time, some people in the media called it impossible but our players did it. This is the new India which knows how to cross 70 to 100.” He said, ”India has to be made a superpower in sports. In the next 25 years, India will become a developed country and also a sports superpower. On this occasion, Paralympic medalist badminton player Pramod Bhagat, world record holder para javelin thrower Sumit Antil, golden girl of para shooting Avni Lekhara, table tennis player Bhavinaben Patel were present. Many medal winners were also present.

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