BENGALURU:Though the city will play host to the inaugural National Para Games for para-athletes – equivalent to the National Games – at the end of this month, Wheelchair Basketball Federation of India (WBFI) saw no applicants from the city for a free training camp that is slated to begin in less than a week, which also doubles as a selection camp for the 2019 Wheelchair Basketball World Championship.
Despite sending communication to 300 NGOs across the country and approaching colleges, the federation has had no luck partly because of the lack of information to enthusiasts who want to get a chance to play despite their limitations.
Wheelchair Basketball Federation of India is conducting a free training camp for women under 23 years in Chennai. During the 12-day-long camp, the participants will be extensively trained in the sport by trained coaches. The top performers will be shortlisted for the national team for the upcoming World Championship in 2019.
The camp is set to be held from June 11-22 at Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium, Chennai. The training camp is open to any young woman with a disability in her lower limbs, both wheelchair bound and one who does not use a wheelchair. The participant may not necessarily be acquainted with basketball or any other sport. The only criterion is one should be able to propel a wheelchair on her own.
“We want to raise awareness on prejudices against disability in India. Wheelchair basketball is a great way of raising self-esteem and the quality of life of players. Playing a sport helps not just to build fitness but also opens great new opportunities,” said Madhavi Latha, president of WBFI and a National Paralympic Swimming Champion.
Latha said, “We have 25 seats and have received applicants only from Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Tamil Nadu. We came to know of an enthusiast in Belagavi in Karnataka and our coaches tried to convince her too, but due to their hesitation we weren’t been successful.”
Mahesh Kumar, Vice-President, Karnataka Wheelchair Basketball Association, said, “In Karnataka, we have 10-15 female wheelchair basketball players who are all above 25 years of age. We are trying through multiple channels to get participants. They would rather spend their time in studies than develop interest in a sport.”
A sports wheelchair will also be provided by the organisers. Registration is open to all women born between January 1, 1995, and January 1, 2004. Interested candidates can register on the WBFI website.