DIPR
Imphal, Sept. 5,
Social Welfare and Cooperation Minister NemchaKipgentoday kicks off the Wheelchair Basketball introductory camp held for the very first time in Manipur at KhumanLampakindoor stadium.It is organized by Wheelchair Basketball Federation of India (WBFI) in collaboration with Department of Social Welfare, Government of Manipur and Department of Youth Affairs & Sports, Government of Manipur and ShishuSarothi.
Addressing the gatherings as Chief Guest, Minister NemchaKipgen expressed on the importance of sports in everyone’s life and stresses that it is even more important in the life of a differently-abled person. Sport teaches independence, disciplined lifestyle and sense of competition, involvement in any form of sports will have rehabilitation not only on the physical body but also on rehabilitating and enhancing the willpower of the physically challenged person, she asserted.
She further acknowledged that differently abled people participates in high performance as well as in competitive and recreational sport. The efforts of a PWDs who overcomes the odds and participates in any paralympic games is commendable and something that should be encouraged and motivated by all.
Smt. Nemcha said that as a nodal department, Social Welfare department has been earnestly working for improving the lives of our differently-abled people by implementing various welfare schemes and programmes to support them for secure education, academic, skill development that will enable them to earn a living and to become self-independent.
It may be mentioned that this is the first time that Wheelchair Basketball is introduced in Manipur. The goal of the 3-day Workshop is to train the first set of players and coaches from Manipur state for the long term development of the sport amongst the disability sector in Manipur. It is hoped that the training will go a long way in contributing to increasing the number of qualified coaches and players for wheelchair basketball in India. 25 trainee players will be participating out of which 5 will be women trainee players.
Wheelchair basketball is a para sport played in Paralympics since 1960 and around 105 countries are playing this game. In India, this sport was introduced by WBFI in 2014.
Secretary, Social Welfare Department, Smt. Jacintha Lazarus, Director, Youth Affairs& Sports, Armstrong Pame and Secretary General, WBFI, Smt. KalyaniRajaraman graced the occasions as Guest of Honours and President respectively. Officials of both the Departments and students from special schools also participated on the inaugural function.
