By Maitreyee Boruah, IANS,
Bangalore: They have overcome their physical disabilities and now are trying to fight discrimination on the sporting field.
Meet table tennis player Raj Aravindam (27) from Chennai, who has been infected with polio when he was one-year-old and has taken up the game ten years back to fight social discrimination against physically challenged people.
“I have taken up table tennis to tell the world that disabled people are no less than any normal mortals. We are equally efficient, if we get proper facilities and support,” Aravindam, who has come to take part at International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports (IWAS) World Games, here told IANS.
“Disability has not deterred me in leading a normal life. Because of sports I have been traveling across the world and winning laurels for my country,” said Aravindam, who has won bronze medal at IWAS World Games in Chinese Taipei in 2007.
Agreed Nirmal Singh, who has come to participate at wheelchair rugby.
“I met with an accident few months back and have suffered multiple injuries including my spinal cord. I have been wheel chair bound since then. I have taken up rugby to tell the world that I am normal. Taking up rugby has come as a therapy to fight my disability also,” said Singh, a native of Japiur, who is currently undergoing treatment at Indian Spinal Injuries Centre in New Delhi.
The Games was flagged-off at Shree Kanteerava Stadium here Tuesday, and will end Dec 1.
The international sporting event is hosting 604 athletes from 43 countries who are participating in 11 disciplines, including athletics, archery, sitting volleyball, table tennis, wheelchair rugby, badminton, golf, power lifting, wheelchair fencing, shooting and swimming.
The IWAS is an international sports organization that governs sports for wheelchair and amputee. IWAS World Games is an International Sporting Event which takes place every two years. The event here has been organised by IWAS in association Paralympic Committee of India (PCI).
“The very spirit of sports is to fight all odds in life. Through sports we are also trying to fight our disability. We want to say that we are also as able as any other normal human beings and can play all forms of games and sports,” said Esa Peklea Mattila, a 100 metres wheelchair racer from Finland.
According to activists working for the rights of physically challenged persons, discrimination against disabled people still continues.
“Be it in the field of jobs or taking part in a sporting event. Disabled people are given very few opportunities. Discrimination and biases against disabled people still continues,” said Arman Ali, a disabled rights activist.
An estimate puts that the world has 650 million people with disabilities.
Around 80 percent of people with disabilities live in developing countries, with largest number living in Asia. India is home to 60 million disabled people