First-ever national sports meet starts

Chandigarh: The first-ever National Sports Meet under the aegis of National Cricket Association for Persons with Intellectual Disabilities, being organized by Government Rehabilitation Institute for Intellectual Disabilities (GRIID), took off on Monday. Teams from Chandigarh and seven states are participating, which include Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi. Those participating in the sports meet are between the age groups of 14 and 35 years.

National Sports Meet 2016 is a three-day programme wherein more than 500 Individuals with intellectual disability from 22 different institutions and representing seven states have taken part in sports including Cricket, Football, Badminton, Table Tennis, Basket Ball and Skating. The matches will be played in Panjab University ground, PU gymnasium Hall, PGI ground, sports ground, sectors 46, 32, 10; and at different venues depending on the games.

The three-day event was inaugurated by MP Kirron Kher who was the chief guest while Panjab University VC Professor Arun Kumar Grover was the guest of honour at an inaugural ceremony organized at Sector 16 cricket stadium on Monday. Dr Atul Sachdeva, director GRIID, welcomed dignitaries. Dr B S Chavan, joint director, GRIID, said this sports meet is being organized for providing an opportunity to special children to showcase their talent in different sports. There is no platform where these children can participate at the national level.