U. Uma Shankar, a 19-year-old differently abled student, was unaware of his athletic abilities till two years ago.
On Friday, he was one among the 550 persons who took part in the district-level sports meet for differently abled persons at the Dr. M.G.R. Stadium here.
“I had never taken part in any competition since my birth. It was a pleasant surprise when I realised after entering college that I could run and win athletic events,” says Mr. Shankar.
The young athlete studied at the Government Boys’ Higher Secondary School, Melur, before joining B.Litt. at Sentamil College here two years back.
“ Today I feel I would have won more laurels had I competed in athletic events since my school days,” Mr. Shankar adds.
Several sportspersons opine that more could be done to promote sports for the differently abled.
They suggest that introducing categories based on age and level of disabilities would popularise the meet.
M. Balakrishnan, a 24-year-old B.Ed. student from the Indian Association for the Blind, who took part in volley ball, says, “District-level sports meet for general category is conducted at least 15 times a year, whereas for the differently abled, it is only once in a year. There is also lack of awareness in many institutions regarding the event.”
His coach S. Venkalamoorthy says, “National-level sports meets have three different categories for sportsmen to compete, whereas in district-level there are no categories.”
“We have taken up sports just for the happiness it gives us. Sports quota should be introduced for differently abled sportspersons as well for better educational and employment opportunities,” says G. Mathivanan, a B.Ed. student from S.V.N. College.
According to J. Ranjith Kumar, a recipient of National Best Sportsperson Award and Madurai district athletic coach for differently abled, says that the physical education directors should show interest and make the differently abled students take part in sports events.
However, S. Murugan, District Sports Officer, says that only the State government could take a call on introducing categories in district-level sports meets.
Forty athletic events and four games were conducted on Friday, from which 80 persons have been selected for State level sports meet.
