Para Athletes Drive New Era of Merit-Based Sports in Tripura
Agartala Dec 15: The inauguration of the Khelo Tripura Para Games 2025 at the Dasharath Deb Sports Complex in Badharghat has underscored Tripura’s growing emphasis on inclusive and merit-driven sports development.
Opening the event on Tuesday, Chief Minister Professor (Dr) Manik Saha highlighted that athletic excellence is defined by determination and discipline, not physical limitations.
Addressing athletes, officials, and parents, the Chief Minister said para sport has emerged as a powerful platform to showcase resilience, mental strength, and competitive ability. He stressed that sustained training, clear goals, and focus are the core ingredients of sporting success, adding that sports transcend social divisions and play a vital role in fostering unity and self-respect.
Linking the state’s vision with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Khelo India initiative, Dr Saha said Tripura is steadily expanding access to sports through the Khelo Tripura programme. He noted that the government is prioritising structured training, modern sports infrastructure, quality equipment, and financial support to help para athletes compete on equal footing. Since its launch in 2023, the Para Games have shown consistent growth in scale and impact, reflecting rising public engagement with disability sports.
The Chief Minister also drew attention to a significant policy shift in the state’s sports administration. “Tripura’s sports ecosystem today is guided by performance and merit, not political influence,” he said, adding that athletes are now being recognised and supported based on ability and achievement.
Reflecting on broader development, Dr Saha said Tripura’s national profile has strengthened in recent years, supported by initiatives such as the HIRA Model, Act East Policy, and Ashtalakshmi Vision, which have accelerated growth across the Northeast. He encouraged athletes to build self-belief, stating that confidence and dedication not only lead to sporting success but also help steer youth away from substance abuse.
Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Tinku Roy said the Khelo Tripura Para Games, launched in 2023, form part of a wider framework for the empowerment of divyang persons. He informed that more than 43,000 UDID cards have been issued so far—covering nearly 95 percent of eligible beneficiaries—enabling access to social pensions and welfare schemes.
Youth Affairs and Sports Secretary Dr P. K. Chakraborty said Tripura’s para athletes are steadily earning recognition at various levels, signalling a promising future for the state’s sports sector. He added that the government is taking an active role in long-term sports planning and talent development.
The programme also featured addresses by Tapas Roy, Secretary of the Social Welfare and Social Education Department, and Colonel Amuk Singh, Chief Administrator of the Paralympic Committee of India. Among those present were MLA Meena Rani Sarkar, Sports Director L. Darlong, Social Welfare Director Tapan Kumar Das, and renowned gymnast and Olympian Padma Shri Dipa Karmakar.
As part of the event, meritorious divyang students from Madhyamik and Higher Secondary examinations, along with achievers from diverse fields, were felicitated. The Chief Minister and other dignitaries also symbolically distributed marriage grants, Nirmala Health Insurance cards, security pensions, and mobility aids, reinforcing the state’s integrated approach to sports development and social inclusion.
