Devendra Jhajharia Praises Svayam for Helping Indian Paralympic Athletes Travel to Paris 2024
New Delhi [India], August 26: Ahead of the Paris Paralympics 2024, Devendra Jhajharia, president of the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI), appreciated the provision of keeping Svayam as the accessibility partner for the contingent. He said the ‘pain’ and troubles faced by differently-abled athletes have now been addressed.
Over 20 athletes from the Indian contingent for the Paralympics 2024 departed for Paris from Delhi airport on Sunday. They are going to the host nation with expectations, the best wishes of a billion countrymen, and support from all government and private partners that will motivate the athletes to surpass the record haul of 19 medals set in the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics.
While talking to the reporters, Jhajharia talked about the PCI’s endeavour to onboard Svayam as the accessibility partner for the Indian contingent for the Paris Paralympics with an effort to ensure ease of travel and dignity of players during their local commute to the airport and training facilities.
“Svayam is a message in itself. The pain of differently-abled athletes has been understood. Work is being done on accessible transport. This is showing a new direction to the country, that what is the need of differently-abled athletes,” Jhajharia said.
The PCI president added that accessibility is important for athletes and once they get it properly, it gives the athletes more confidence. “Accessibility is important for athletes. They have to travel a lot. If they get accessibility, they feel more confident and better mentally,” he added.
Svayam has donated special accessible vehicles that can accommodate wheelchairs without the athletes having to be displaced from the wheelchair to board the vehicle.
Various reputed para-athletes, such as table tennis stars Bhavina Patel and Sonalben Patel, para-badminton players Manoj Sarkar, Manisha Ramdass and gold medallist Krishna Nagar, and para-athletes Sachin Sarjerao Khilari and Sakshi Kasana, among others, were at the airport to catch their flight to Paris on Sunday.
At the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics, India won five gold medals, eight silver and six bronze medals, bringing home a record total of 19 medals.
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Devendra Jhajharia -: Devendra Jhajharia is a famous Indian Paralympic athlete who has won gold medals in javelin throw. He is also the president of the Paralympic Committee of India.
Paralympic Committee of India -: The Paralympic Committee of India is an organization that helps Indian athletes with disabilities to compete in sports events like the Paralympics.
Svayam -: Svayam is an organization that helps make places and transport accessible for people with disabilities, so they can move around easily.
Paris 2024 -: Paris 2024 refers to the upcoming Paralympic Games that will be held in Paris, France, in the year 2024.
Tokyo 2020 Paralympics -: The Tokyo 2020 Paralympics were the Paralympic Games held in Tokyo, Japan, in 2021 (delayed due to COVID-19). Indian athletes won 19 medals there.
Bhavina Patel -: Bhavina Patel is an Indian Paralympic athlete who competes in table tennis and won a silver medal at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics.
Krishna Nagar -: Krishna Nagar is an Indian Paralympic athlete who competes in badminton and won a gold medal at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics.