Chennai, 18 February (HS): The 23rd National Para Athletics Championship got off to a grand start at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai on Monday. This historic event, organized with the support of the Tamil Nadu government, will conclude on February 20.

1,476 para-athletes from across the country have participated in this championship, competing in 155 events under 30 teams. This event is considered to be one of the biggest para athletics competitions in the country.

The country's top para-athletes have made their presence felt in the competition, including veterans like Tokyo Paralympic gold medalist Sumit Antil (javelin throw F64), Mariyappan Thangavelu (high jump T63) and Navdeep Singh (javelin throw F41).

This event is being organized with the joint efforts of the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) and the Tamil Nadu Paralympic Sports Association (TNPSA). PCI President Devendra Jhajharia described this championship as a new milestone for Indian para athletics and said,

This championship in Chennai will set new standards for para sports. The competition of 1,476 athletes in 155 events shows that the popularity and competitiveness of para sports in India is growing rapidly. With world-class facilities and a commitment to inclusiveness, we are moving towards a new era of Indian para athletics.

Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister and Sports Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin has played an important role in the successful organization of the championship. The organizers hope that this event will further strengthen para sports in the country and prepare new stars for future international competitions.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar