Several energetic and enthusiastic scenes were witnessed at the Milk Colony Ground here on Friday. Scores of children, who are hearing and speech impaired, were communicating with each other using brisk sign language and bracing themselves to participate in various sports events at the Indian Children’s Games.
While some students with physical disabilities were seen pushing themselves forward in the wheelchair run, twenty boys with partial and complete visual impairment were pulling the rope in the tug of war contest.
As many as 164 students participated in 13 different competitions, including back walk, football and wheelchair basketball. Yogesh S., a second PU student who is visually impaired, won first place in the walking race. “I came to win today. I told my friends that I would definitely walk out of the ground with a prize,” he said.
Jai Prakash, a class three student, who participated in the wheel chair event was seen mustering all his strength to push his wheel chair forward. Although he came last, with a smile on his face, he said, “I loved the race!”
Save playgroundsFormer MLA Narendra Babu N.L. and patron of the games said that there was a need to have a play ground in every ward. He also expressed disappointment over lack of lung spaces in the city for children. “There is a need to save playgrounds and ensure that children have space to play,” he said. Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Abhayachandra Jain said that the State government would strengthen efforts to encourage sports among children with special needs.
