Special Olympics Bharat Announces Team for Asia Pacific Bocce and Bowling Competition
The Special Olympics Bharat (SOB) has announced a 16-member team to represent India at the Special Olympics Asia Pacific Bocce and Bowling Competition. This event will take place from November 18 to November 22 at the Thyagaraj Sports Complex in New Delhi.
Team Composition
The team includes eight athletes each for Bocce and Bowling, supported by eight coaches. The Men’s Bocce team features Kabir Pritam Baruah, Ebenezer David, Wilfred Dsouza, and Devansh Agarwal, coached by P. Arun and S. Anandan. The Women’s Bocce team includes Priyanka, Manjula, Purnima Madan, and G. Subhashini, coached by Mamta and Pushpa Tripathi.
The Women’s Bowling team comprises Neha Singh, Simran Pujara, Shraddha Patel, and Susri Sangeeta Nayak, with coaches Shafali Gupta and Anupama Singh. The Men’s Bowling team includes Ibhanan Sahu, Ankit, Prakash Veghela, and Nirupam Dey, coached by Akshat Sharma and Ileshbhai Raval.
Significance of the Event
Mallika Nadda, President of SOB, expressed pride in the team, highlighting their perseverance and dedication. She encouraged support for the athletes, emphasizing the importance of inclusion and empowerment.
This competition is the first of its kind in India, focusing on athletes aged 22 and above with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD). It aims to provide opportunities for older athletes whose sports participation often declines with age.
Over 100 athletes from 12 countries, including Australia, Indonesia, and Malaysia, will participate, representing regions such as East Asia and Asia Pacific. This event also marks the introduction of bowling as a competitive sport for Special athletes in India, in collaboration with the Tenpin Federation of India.
Doubts Revealed
Special Olympics Bharat -: Special Olympics Bharat is an organization in India that provides sports training and competitions for people with intellectual disabilities. It is part of the global Special Olympics movement.
Asia Pacific Bocce and Bowling Competition -: This is a sports event where athletes from the Asia Pacific region compete in Bocce and Bowling. Bocce is a ball sport similar to bowling, and this competition is specifically for athletes with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities -: These are conditions that affect a person’s ability to learn, communicate, and perform everyday activities. People with these disabilities may need extra support to participate in activities like sports.
Mallika Nadda -: Mallika Nadda is the President of Special Olympics Bharat. She is responsible for leading the organization and supporting athletes with intellectual disabilities in India.