The first inter-school tournament-cum-training in Boccia, a paralympic sport, hosted by Spastics Society of Tiruchirapalli last week witnessed enthusiastic participation by children affected by cerebral palsy.
Six children each escorted by a teacher from the host institution and nine other institutions: Arivalayam Special School for the Mentally Retarded, Asha Deepam Special School for the Mentally Retarded, Blossoms Special School for the Mentally Retarded, Intact Special School for the Mentally Retarded, Vidivelli Special School for the Mentally Retarded, Holy Cross Service Society, God's Love Transitional School, Dolphine Special School, and Sivanandha Balalaya Special School, took part in the competition refereed by Rajiv Rajan, executive director of Chennai-based, Ektha, a voluntary organisation.
The overall winner was the team representing Sivananda Balalaya, and the team from Holy Cross Service Society came next in the game played by persons with high-level disabilities under three formats, singles, doubles and triples.
The Spastics Society of Tiruchi has conducted the competition twice for its students in the past, and the overwhelming response to the inter-school competition has prompted the hosts to make the competition an annual event, its Director C. Shanthakumar said.
