CM inaugurates National Paralympic Powerlifting Championship
Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 16 Jan: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, while virtually inaugurating the National Paralympic Powerlifting Championship on Friday, said that there has been an unprecedented change in India’s sports history in the past decade, and this decade has become a golden chapter of Indian sports.
Addressing the opening ceremony organised at Core University in Roorkee via virtual medium, Chief Minister Dhami said that this competition is not just a sports event but a celebration of that indomitable willpower of India, which turns every obstacle into a challenge and every challenge into an opportunity. He said that powerlifting in itself is a symbol of discipline, patience, courage and self-confidence, and this sport is an unparalleled example of not just strength, but also morale and self-respect. Chief Minister Dhami said that, today, the differently-abled brothers and sisters of India are bringing glory to the country in every field. He said that India’s first Paralympic gold medalist Murlikant Petkar won the gold medal in the swimming competition of the 1972 Summer Paralympics. Also, Satyendra Singh Lohia became the first Indian differently-abled player to cross the English Channel by swimming in 12 hours. India’s para archer Sheetal Devi proved how weakness is turned into strength by winning a gold medal in the World Para Archery Championship despite not having both hands. Similarly, the differently-abled women’s cricket team has brought glory to India by winning the T20 Blind Women’s Cricket World Cup-2025 in Colombo. Apart from this, Avani Lekhara in shooting and Sumit Antil in javelin throw established their dominance on the world stage by winning gold medals in the Tokyo Paralympics. Not only this, in the year 2024, Indian athletes created history by winning 29 medals in the Paralympics held in Paris, and by winning 110 medals in the Asian Youth Para Games held in Dubai in 2025, they told the whole world that Indian Paralympic players are second to none.
The Chief Minister, while mentioning Padma Shri awardee Deepa Malik, who was present at the ceremony said, “You are the first Indian female Paralympic athlete who won a silver medal in the shot put competition of the 2016 Rio Paralympics. Apart from this, you are also a successful biker, swimmer and car rally driver; your entire journey has been extremely inspiring”.
Chief Minister Dhami said that, in the last decade, there has been an unprecedented change in the sports history of India, and this decade has become a golden chapter of Indian sports. Indian athletes have consistently shown the world, by breaking their limits, that India is no longer just a country participating in competitions; today’s “New India” plays to win the contest. Behind this change has been the clear thinking and strong policy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He said that the Prime Minister’s love for sports can be gauged from the fact that under his leadership, India’s sports budget has increased three times compared to before. The “Khelo India” campaign started by the Central Government is succeeding in bringing forward various sports talents from every part of the country. Meanwhile, sports infrastructure is also being strengthened in the country through the campaign.
Chief Minister Dhami added that the grand and successful organisation of the 38th National Games held in the state last year has paved the way for establishing Uttarakhand as “Khelbhoomi” (Land of Sports) along with “Devbhoomi” (Land of Gods). In the National Games, the state’s athletes secured 7th position by winning 103 medals. The state government is making efforts to develop world-class sports infrastructure in the state with the guidance and cooperation of the Prime Minister. It is a result of this that today Uttarakhand has become capable of organising not only national but also international level sports competitions.
The Chief Minister, while praising the parents of differently-abled athletes said, “You all never considered differently-abled children as weak, but rather made them your strength. Today these children have become an inspiration for the entire country. Others should also take inspiration from this”. He said that the Uttarakhand government stands with differently-abled players in every such endeavour.
On this occasion, Khel Ratna and Padma Shri awardee Dr Deepa Malik, General Secretary of the Paralympic Committee of India, Jaywant Hammanavar, Chairperson of India Para Powerlifting, JP Singh, Vice President of Para Powerlifting, Shubham Chaudhary, Chairman of Core University JC Jain, Paralympic Powerlifter Paramjeet Kumar, Ashok and Kasturi were among those present.
