SDAT to organise, sponsor 23rd National para-athletics championships and Asia Triathlon Cup

SDAT to organise, sponsor 23rd National para-athletics championships and Asia Triathlon Cup

Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT) will organise and sponsor the 23rd National para-athletics championships and the SDAT-Asia Triathlon Cup.

While the Nationals will be held from February 18 to 20 at the Nehru Stadium, the Asia Triathlon Cup will be held on February 16 at INS Adyar.

Paris Paralympics medallists T. Mariyappan (high jump bronze), Sumit Antil (javelin gold, F64 category) and Navdeep Singh (javelin throw gold, F41 category) are some of the top athletes who are expected to participate in the Nationals, which will witness around 1700 participants from across the country.

In the Asia Triathlon Cup, the first of the nine legs, 15 countries have confirmed participation. Japan (12) has sent the highest number of participants followed by Indonesia (8), Uzbekistan (7), and Nepal (4).

India (10) will be sending a young team, which is short of exposure but hopeful of putting up a good show. With the Grand Prix scheduled in March in New Delhi, quite a few of the Paris Paralympic medallists might not be able to take part.

At a press conference here on Tuesday, J. Meghanatha Reddy, Member Secretary of SDAT and Atulya Misra, Additional Chief Secretary to Government expressed confidently that Tamil Nadu Government, which has been a front-runner in sports, will organise the events in a smooth manner.

N. Ramachandran, vice-president of SDAT and president of Tamil Nadu Triathlon Association, said the event will consist of swim (750m), cycle (20Km) and run (5Km). During the press meet, the mascot (an elephant) for National para-athletics was also unveiled.

Kirubakara Raja, Secretary of Tamil Nadu Paralympics Sports Association was also present. Paris Paralympics badminton silver medallist in singles (SU5) Thulasimathi Murugesan was the special guest.