National Para Games from February 21 to 23

Yasaratne Gamage

The 13th National Para Games organized by the National Paralympics Committee will be held from February 21 to 23 at the Sugathadasa Stadium, Colombo.

The event held after a laps of few years will be a stage for differently able sports personnel to showcase their talents. This year there will be 15 events including disabled cricket, badminton, cycling, wheel chair marathon, beach volleyball, wheel chair tennis, swimming, air rifle shooting , power lifting, table tennis, archery, wheel chair basket ball, volleyball in standing and sitting formats and athletics. The badminton and standing volleyball matches have already been held and the rest of team events will be worked off by February 10. The athletics and the award ceremony will be held on a grand scale on February 21to 23.

The event will also be significant for the athletes as it will be an initial selection opportunity to select the athletic team to participate in the World Para Athletic Meet which will be held in France in July.

The disabled sports personnel have brought honour to the country during past years by gaining victories in athletics, badminton, standing volleyball, beach volleyball, wheelchair tennis and in disabled cricket at events held in Asia and Europe.

Notably Staff Sergeant Pradeep Sanjaya became the first Sri Lankan to win a Paralympic medal by winning a bronze medal at the T46 , 400 metres at the London Paralympics 2012. Seven sports personnel including a female participated in the event for athletics and wheelchair tennis.

Around 1200 athletes representing the Army , Navy and Air Force and several sports clubs will participate this year. Among them are rehabilitated Tamil sportsmen and women.