Sports day brings joy and inclusion for specially abled; 1,400 students participate

Hyderabad: Laughs and cheers filled the air as specially abled children participated in a dedicated sports day organised by the National Institute for the Empowerment of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities (NIEPID) and Young India at Bowenpally, Secunderabad on Tuesday. Over 1,400 students from 12 schools participated in an array of events such as 100-metre races, lemon and spoon races, shot put, and tug of war. Other events included bocce, musical chairs, and a treasure hunt."This is the first time we've seen our daughter so excited about anything," said the mother of 8-year-old Aditi Sharma, who is from Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. "We got to know about this event through social media and came to check it out, and we are very happy with the outcome." The event, saw participation from both urban and rural areas with some participants having travelled from as far as 90 kilometres."We want to create a platform where every child, regardless of their abilities, can experience the joy of sports and competition," said Ashish Kumar Sonthalia from Young India. "The overwhelming response shows that there's a real need for such inclusive events in our community. We want to make this an annual affair for Hyderabad."Parents emphasised the event's positive impact on their children's social development. "These activities are not just about sports; they're about building confidence and making connections," said Hari Nath, whose son participated in a race event. "We didn't know such opportunities existed for our children. Through social volunteers who visited our son's anganwadi, I got to learn about the event." "This is a learning experience for us too," said Kiran Mayi, mother of a 6-year-old. "Seeing our children interact and participate in activities with others gives us hope for their future."