NEW DELHI: An 84-member Indian contingent that will participate in the Paris Paralympics starting on August 28 and will be accompanied by 95 officials including team officials, medical staff, and other support staff to address the athletes’ special needs.
India is sending its largest-ever Paralympics team to this year’s games. The total strength of the Indian contingent will thus have 179 members.
The team will see 84 athletes competing in 12 sports.In comparison, India had sent 54 participants in nine sports to the Tokyo Paralympics in 2021.
Out of the 95, as many as 77 are team officials, nine are contingent medical officials and another nine contingent officials.
“Considering the special needs of some para athletes, personal coaches have been included in the contingent. However, they will provide necessary services to other players as per the directions of the Chef de Mission/team head coach,” the ministry said while clearing the contingent.
“The participation of the entire contingent (including sportspersons, contingent officials, coaches) except that of Chef de Mission and one team manager for para badminton will be at cost to government.”
High-profile athletes like javelin thrower Sumit Antil and shooter Avani Lekhara, who aim to defend their Tokyo Paralympics gold medals, will benefit from having their personal coaches with them.
“In any para sports event, the participants need more support staff like personal coaches and escorts than able-bodied competitors. So, it is nothing new to have more support staff in para sports,” a team official said.
The para-athletics team comprises 38 competitors and has the largest number of personal coaches and escorts among all teams. Each member of the contingent, apart from the Chef de Mission and the team manager for the para-badminton team, will receive a daily allowance of USD 50. This allowance covers the actual period of stay, including acclimatization, training, and travel days.
Some officials will be staying outside the Games Village. Devendra Jhajharia, the president of the Paralympic Committee of India, departed for Paris on Sunday along with a large contingent, including Chef de Mission Satya Prakash Sangwan.
Paralympic Committee of India president Devendra Jhajharia, who left for Paris on Sunday with a large contingent, including CDM Satya Prakash Sangwan, told PTI on Saturday that he will be staying outside the Games Village “to look after all the athletes” as some will be competing outside Paris.
Jhajharia had said that India would be looking to win more than 25 medals, including double-digit gold, at the Paris Paralympics.
India had won 19 medals (5 gold, 8 silver, 6 bronze) at the Tokyo Paralympics in 2021, which is the highest ever till now.
India is sending its largest-ever Paralympics team to this year’s games. The total strength of the Indian contingent will thus have 179 members.
The team will see 84 athletes competing in 12 sports.In comparison, India had sent 54 participants in nine sports to the Tokyo Paralympics in 2021.
Out of the 95, as many as 77 are team officials, nine are contingent medical officials and another nine contingent officials.
“Considering the special needs of some para athletes, personal coaches have been included in the contingent. However, they will provide necessary services to other players as per the directions of the Chef de Mission/team head coach,” the ministry said while clearing the contingent.
“The participation of the entire contingent (including sportspersons, contingent officials, coaches) except that of Chef de Mission and one team manager for para badminton will be at cost to government.”
High-profile athletes like javelin thrower Sumit Antil and shooter Avani Lekhara, who aim to defend their Tokyo Paralympics gold medals, will benefit from having their personal coaches with them.
“In any para sports event, the participants need more support staff like personal coaches and escorts than able-bodied competitors. So, it is nothing new to have more support staff in para sports,” a team official said.
The para-athletics team comprises 38 competitors and has the largest number of personal coaches and escorts among all teams. Each member of the contingent, apart from the Chef de Mission and the team manager for the para-badminton team, will receive a daily allowance of USD 50. This allowance covers the actual period of stay, including acclimatization, training, and travel days.
Some officials will be staying outside the Games Village. Devendra Jhajharia, the president of the Paralympic Committee of India, departed for Paris on Sunday along with a large contingent, including Chef de Mission Satya Prakash Sangwan.
Paralympic Committee of India president Devendra Jhajharia, who left for Paris on Sunday with a large contingent, including CDM Satya Prakash Sangwan, told PTI on Saturday that he will be staying outside the Games Village “to look after all the athletes” as some will be competing outside Paris.
Jhajharia had said that India would be looking to win more than 25 medals, including double-digit gold, at the Paris Paralympics.
India had won 19 medals (5 gold, 8 silver, 6 bronze) at the Tokyo Paralympics in 2021, which is the highest ever till now.
