USHA 22nd National Athletics Championship for the Blind

The much-awaited 22nd USHA – IBSA National Athletics Championship for the Blind was organized from 14th December to 16th December 2022 at the Thyagraj Stadium, New Delhi. This event was organized by IBSA in collaboration with USHA (Title Sponsor).

At the Championships, there were 550 participants from 19 states including Tripura, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Andhra Pradesh and Chandigarh.

A total of 59 (31 for men, 28 for women) international and indigenous events were organized under three categories- T11, T12, and T13. On 13 December, the orientation was done for the managers of the teams participating in the Championship. Mr. K.C. Pande, Executive Secretary of the Blind Relief Association, Mr. C.P. Mohanan, Vice Chairperson IBSA, and Mr. David, Hony. General Secretary IBSA were present at the meeting.

The inaugural function was presided over by Chief Guest, Hon’ble Smt. Meenakshi Lekhi (Minister of State for External Affairs and Culture of India) and Dr. Deepa Malik, President –  Paralympic Committee of India as the Guest of Honour. Other dignitaries such as Rev. J.K. Manchanda, Treasurer – Sant Nirankari Charitable Mission; Prof. Sankar Kumar Sanyal, President – Harijan Sevak Sangh; Shri Sanjay Rai, Secretary – Harijan Sevak Sangh; Smt. Chhaya Shriram, Director – Usha International; Smt. Komal Mehra, Head of Sports Initiatives and Associations – Usha International; Ankur Dhama, Arjuna Awardee were also present. In the inaugural ceremony, a coffee table book “The Play of Dots” was released by Smt. Meenakshi Lekhi.

The first copy of the book was handed over to Ankur Dhama, the first Indian blind athlete to take part in the Rio Paralympics 2016, nurtured and trained by IBSA. The book highlights the accomplishments of visually challenged athletes whose struggles are often overlooked. Despite congenital disabilities (since birth) or life-altering injuries caused by accidents or disorders later in life, the athletes have shown remarkable grit and self-belief to transform themselves into some of the most accomplished athletes.

Results:

Men (Institutional Championship)

T11 – Institute for the Blind, Chandigarh

T12 – Netraheen Vikas Sansthan, Jodhpur

T13 – All Tripura Blind Committee

Women (Institutional Championship)

T11 – Institute for the Blind, Chandigarh

T12 – Para Sports Association of Gujarat

T13 – Institute for the Blind, Chandigarh

Men (State Championship)

T11 – Karnataka Sports Association

T12 – Karnataka Sports Association

T13 – Blind Sports Association, Andhra Pradesh

Women (State Championship)

T11 – Karnataka Sports Association

T12 – Karnataka Sports Association & Sports Association for the Blind, M.P.

T13 – Karnataka Sports Association