Khelo India Para Games

A Harbinger of Development Through Sport

Vidhanshu Kumar

The moment Ujjwala, a sparrow, was unveiled as the mascot of the first Khelo India Para Games - it marked the entry of yet another platform of development through sports in India. And as the meaning of Ujjwala goes, the event ensured a ‘bright future’ of the specially abled athletes in the country.  

The first Khelo India Para Games, also called 2023 Khelo India Para Games, were successfully held in New Delhi from December 10 to 17, 2023. More than 1300 athletes from all over the country participated in the event at stadia and sports complexes across the national capital.

What is Disability?

There are various spectra to look at disability, or special ability. In 2008, Thomas and Smith in their book, “Disability, Sport and Society” have underlined two chief strands in defining disability - the medical definition and the social definition. One accepted medical definition is provided by the World Health Organization (WHO).   According to WHO, Disability means, "any restriction or lack of ability (resulting from impairment) to perform an activity in the manner or within the range considered normal for a human being." (WHO, 1980:28). The physical restrictions may incur due to impairment or handicap.

On the other hand, the social model of disability does not look at the centrality of any impairment as such, but, suggests the centrality of societies in fostering disability. It argues that if societies were set up in such a way that it helped to enable the disabled and suit their requirements, there would not be any restrictions on them to take part in any activity. In essence, the social model of disability asserts that impairment is mostly caused by the societal mindset and physical infrastructure, rather than being attributed to an individual's medical condition. Both the sets of models - the medical and the social- have their own pros and cons and the academia agrees that we are yet to arrive at the most acceptable definition that takes into account all the concerns.

How are Sports and Development Related?

Sport is seen as a major tool of development as it has the capacity to bring about social change through empowerment. An important endeavour of modern society is to promote advancement through societal change. Social development can be attained by implementing social reforms, as long as one takes into account the advancement of the entire populace rather than a privileged few (Midgley, 1995). Sport has recently gained recognition as a prominent force in promoting social growth and change, despite the existence of various other possible tools for achieving these goals.

According to ‘Sports for Development and Peace, A UNICEF supported programme, sports help in:

·         Development of the Individual

·         Promoting health and preventing diseases

·         Bringing equality of gender

·         Social integration and development of social capital

·         Promoting peace and conflict resolution

Within these broad goals, sport becomes an important part in integration of disabled people in the society and helps in overall development of the individual. Sport is seen as a tool to bring about empowerment of these groups. “Lack of empowerment is understood as a state of powerlessness, real or imagined, alienation and loss of sense of control of one's life." (Rappaport, 1984). On the other hand, empowerment is defined as, ‘the process by which groups or individuals become able to take control of their circumstances to achieve their goals.’ (Adams). So when we keep the definitions of disability and empowerment side by side, we can understand how sports act as bridge between the two - from a sense of lack of power, to empowerment.  Thus, events like ‘Khelo India Para Games’ rise in stature as a harbinger of social change.

Significance of Khelo India Para Games

For decades the para athletes faced major hurdles in managing day-to-day activities in India, forget participating in big events outside the country. Even if these athletes managed to overcome the odds, they struggled to find opportunities and tournaments within the country to hone their skills.  After decades of struggle, a first major body was formed representing the para athletes called the Physically Handicapped Sports Federation of India in the year 1992. Later its name was changed to the Paralympic Committee of India which is the governing body of such games in India. In the early days, the support was a trickle and even the government of those times hardly paid the needed attention to these games. With a little bit of donation from corporates, individuals and some support from the government, these athlete bravehearts kept representing India at the Paralympics and Asian Paralympic games etc.   While they had occasional medals to show, the infrastructure at the grassroots and domestic level was missing for them. It is in this regard the staging of Khelo India Para Games gains much importance. Not only it has brought international level competition and games closer to home, it has also included the Para Games into elite sports. This rise in stature will add sustainability to the sports as corporates and media would also not shy away from these games and it will be mutually beneficial for all. The 2023 Khelo India Para Games held recently were witnessed by thousands of people and it provided a perfect platform for talent identification. Many promising athletes from these games would get all the support from the government and sports bodies as they prepare to represent India at the Para Olympics. Their success would also foster inclusivity and guide future generations.

PM Leads the Way

Before the Khelo India Para Games, Indian para athletes had participated in the Asian Para Games and won rich laurels by amassing as many as 111 medals. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi interacted with the contingent and congratulated them on the grand success. Indeed, this time, India won three times the medals compared to 2014. Shri Modi said, "All of you present here, some came back winners, some wiser, but none came back defeated. There is no losing in sports, only winning or learning." The Prime Minister said that the success of Divyang athletes not only inspires the entire nation, it also instils a sense of pride among the citizens. He also underlined another benefit of sports. He said that it is being accepted as a profession, thus helping athletes build a grand career.  He also promised continued support from the government to these athletes. Indeed, this is a noble cause as the benefits of sports for disabled individuals are many, ranging from physical fitness to mental well-being.  Individuals with disabilities often face societal bias that lead to unfavourable attitudes and prejudice. People with disabilities frequently miss out on work prospects because of the stigma attached to their condition, which prevents them from pursuing conventional education. But this is where playing sports can be a really effective cure.

Engaging in sports activities improves the muscular strength and endurance of people with impairments. In addition to lowering pain and swelling brought on by illnesses like arthritis, it also helps in overcoming anxiety, sadness and mood fluctuations. Sports also helps these group in social integration, self-confidence, skill development and attaining a potential career path.

Success Stories of Indian Para-Athletes:

The success stories of Indian para athletes have inspired generations. In the 1972 Summer Olympics, India's Murlikant Petkar won the 50 metre free style gold in swimming, bringing  India's first gold medal. In 2016, Deepa Malik won the silver in shot put, becoming India's first female medal winner at the Paralympics.  India achieved its best success in 2020 Summer Paralympics when the contingent won a total of 19 medals that included 5 gold, 8 silver and 6 bronze. Record number of 54 athletes participated in these games. Avani Lakhera became a household name by winning two medals in shooting. She was crowned champion in 10 M Air Rifle by winning the gold. She also won the bronze in the 50 M Rifle 3 positions event.  As mentioned above, India also created a record by getting the highest medals haul for the country at the 2023 Asian Paralympic Games. However, despite the new-found success, there are challenges abound. Society needs to understand the importance of inclusivity. Government alone cannot fill all the gaps that exist in their accessibility, infrastructure, funding, coaching and employment opportunities. A robust model that includes the government and the private sector needs to be implemented. It is also important to learn that in sports, whether it is the Olympics or the Paralympics, not everyone wins a medal. Those athlete who have not won anything or who participate at lower level need recognition and support too. 

It is hoped that events like Khelo India Para Games will help in raising public perception. As the Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Shri Anurag Singh Thakur mentioned while launching the mascot of the games, "Khelo India has proven to be a game-changer and played a pivotal role in promoting sports and taking it up as a career.  The resounding success of our athletes across tournaments is a shining example of this. In our effort to provide our specially-abled athletes with the best facilities, exposure, and competition, this initiative has been launched." One can safely say that para-games in India are here to prosper.

(The author is a senior sports journalist). Feedback on this article can be sent to: feedback.employmentnews@gmail.com)

Views expressed are personal.