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By:

Bhalchandra Chorghade

11 August 2025 at 7:24:18 pm

Para-athletes Deserve More Than Applause

While applause celebrates champions, sustained investment gives every para-athlete a fair chance to succeed. As the Asian Para Games begin on October 18, the spotlight will once again turn to athletes who have overcome formidable challenges to compete at the highest level. Their performances will inspire millions. Every medal will be celebrated as a testament to courage, discipline and determination. But beyond the podium celebrations lies a question that deserves equal attention. Are India’s...

Para-athletes Deserve More Than Applause

While applause celebrates champions, sustained investment gives every para-athlete a fair chance to succeed. As the Asian Para Games begin on October 18, the spotlight will once again turn to athletes who have overcome formidable challenges to compete at the highest level. Their performances will inspire millions. Every medal will be celebrated as a testament to courage, discipline and determination. But beyond the podium celebrations lies a question that deserves equal attention. Are India’s para-athletes receiving the training, facilities, sponsorship and financial security they need to succeed on the international stage? For many para-athletes, winning a medal is only one part of the struggle. Accessing suitable training facilities and securing specialised equipment can be equally challenging. The cost of rehabilitation and the need for adequate financial support add to these demands. Their determination is unquestionable. What needs closer examination is whether the sporting ecosystem is doing enough to support their success. Testing the Support System The Asian Para Games are more than a sporting spectacle. They offer an opportunity to assess how effectively India identifies, trains and supports athletes with disabilities. Medal tallies provide a measure of competitive performance. However, the broader test lies in whether athletes have access to professional coaching, sports science, physiotherapy, nutrition and psychological support throughout their careers. These are essential elements of an effective sporting system. Para-sport requires specialised preparation, with each discipline presenting its own demands. Wheelchair racers, para-swimmers, para-shuttlers and athletes competing in throwing events all have distinct training requirements. Access to coaches trained in para-sports and appropriate sport-specific equipment can make a decisive difference to performance. However, opportunities remain uneven, particularly for athletes who train outside established centres. Infrastructure remains another concern. A sports complex cannot be considered inclusive simply because it has a ramp at the entrance. Athletes also need accessible changing rooms, toilets and accommodation. Transport and pathways connecting different training areas must be accessible as well. Specialised equipment, such as racing wheelchairs and sport-specific prostheses, presents another challenge. These can be expensive to procure, customise and maintain, adding to the costs of training and competition. Beyond Medal Rewards Financial support is equally important for para-athletes. While prominent athletes may attract corporate sponsorship, many emerging competitors struggle to meet the costs of training, travel, equipment and participation in competitions. These expenses can place a considerable burden on athletes seeking to progress in their chosen disciplines. Sponsors often gravitate towards sports with greater commercial visibility. As a result, athletes competing in less-publicised disciplines may have access to fewer resources. Corporate India needs to move beyond one-time rewards given after medal victories. Multi-year sponsorships, equipment partnerships and scholarships can offer more consistent support. Investing in junior athletes is equally important to help them develop their skills and progress in their careers. Such measures can provide the stability needed to compete at the international level. Government assistance also has a vital role to play. Timely grants, transparent selection criteria and adequate insurance coverage are essential to ensure athletes receive the support they need. The Games should prompt sports federations and policymakers to examine whether talent is being lost because of financial constraints, inadequate facilities or limited access to coaching. Schools and colleges, too, must create pathways for children with disabilities to enter organised sport. India’s para-athletes do not need sympathy in place of opportunity. They need professional training, accessible infrastructure, reliable funding and a fair chance to compete. The real measure of an inclusive sporting nation is not how loudly it applauds a champion, but how well it supports the athlete who has yet to win a medal. As the Asian Para Games unfold from October 18, every Indian medal deserves celebration. But the commitment to these athletes must continue long after the closing ceremony. Applause recognises achievement; sustained investment makes it possible.

Bad Roads, Ugly Politics

Suyash Padate
Nov 1, 2024
2 min read

The pathetic state of roads in Mumbai city as well as its suburbs has made daily commute a dangerous affair. The residents are miffed with the BMC over its lackadaisical attitude. Mumbaikars tweet photos, post videos to grab attention, but everything is in vain. Who cares for the common people. Backbreaking journeys have become part and parcel of life. Political leaders are busy mud-slinging.


This year the monsoon took a break after almost four and half months. During this time some of the roads virtually became non commutable. It may be recalled that the Chief Minister Eknath Shinde first announced to make Mumbai roads pothole free.


Its almost two years now the BMC has concretised only 9 percent of roads it planned to concretise. This decision was taken when it came to light that due to the properties of bitumen in asphalt roads, potholes are a regular occurrence due to contact with water during monsoons.


Hence, to solve the problem of potholes, the corporation has adopted a policy of cement concreting of 6-meter-wide roads in phases. The decision was taken but the dilly-dallying affair made things more difficult.


Mumbai’s traffic does put a lot of strain on roads which is not the case in the other developed countries. Second most important aspect is concretisation of roads is done partly and in phases.


The worst problem which is faced is repeated digging for cables and drainage, which weakens the roads. Above all corruption in BMC makes matters worse as a result everything comes to grinding halt.


According to experts, repairing potholes is a reaction with symptomatic treatment. By and large we are dispensing superficial treatment without addressing the root cause. The long-term solution will be to have roads with no potholes but what we need is the means and technology to achieve this. But for this political will is necessary which we lack on every step.


Mumbaikar’s are convience that corruption in the municipal corporation is the main reason. Contractors have had a monopoly over the last 20 years and this is the reason why reputed companies never come ahead for these projects.


As a result, in the name of attendance and repair, the BMC does shoddy work. Crores are spent but the end result is nothing. The BMC is not paying attention to the crust. If the crust is weak, potholes will see an increase. Without any thought or technical know-how, potholes are filled with cold mix.


This is the reason why the city and suburbs continue to have craters on the roads.


Craters, a serious threat to the safety and security of people. Mumbaikars fade up from their repeated visits to orthopedic surgeons.


They are in a mood to teach a proper lesson to those who were at the helm of the affairs.

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