Usha Sports Championship for the Blind 2018
New Delhi, January 5th, 2018: Usha International, one of India’s leading consumer durable company and Indian Blind Sports Association (IBSA), a premier national-level sports organization working for the promotion of sports for the visually challenged is organizing the USHA Sports Championships for the Blind to be held in New Delhi from 8-13 January 2018.
Usha Sports Championship for the Blind will be a six-day tournament, slated to kick-off on January 8, 2018 at the premises of the Blind Relief Association, Delhi.Over 400 participants, including 99 female blind sports persons from eighteen states will be participating in the tournament. The events being held are:
· 4th IBSA Kabaddi Championships(8-13 January)
· Coaching Camp and Seminar on Blind Sports (8-13 January)
· 7th IBSA Powerlifting Championships (10 January)
· 2nd IBSA Judo Championship (11-13 January)
With the Usha Sports Championships for the Blind this year, IBSA is launching a long-term programme with special thrust on promoting female participation in sports. Usha is also committed to promote sports and an active lifestyle, across all demographics and help to provide a platform not only to the youth but also for the differently abled sports enthusiasts. This association is in continuation of Usha’s long-term commitment towards promoting sports across demographics and thus developing a sporting ecosystem in the country.
About IBSA
Established in 1986 the Association represents India in the International Blind Sports Federation, the apex world body, is also affiliated with Paralympic Committee of India. The Association has been playing a leading role in promoting sports among the visually challenged at the national and international levels. It has so far organized 20 bi-annual National Sports Meets consisting of events like short and long distance races, long jump, shot put, javelin and discus throws swimming, chess and powerlifting. In the 20th Meet held in December 2016 in New Delhi 750 sportspersons from 18 states participated.
The Association has been regularly sending Indian athletes to top-level international championships held under the aegis of International Blind Sports Federation. The Association’s athletes have won 5 medals (1 silver & 4 bronze) in the Antalya World Championships (2011), 17 medals (9 gold, 1 silver & 7 bronze) at the World Youth and Students Championships in 2009, 18 medals (5 gold, 5 silver & 8 bronze) at the same Championships in 2011 and 2 Bronze medals in the Seoul 2015 IBSA World Games.
The Association is constantly striving to provide access to the visually challenged in India to an increased variety of sports events like 5-a-Side Football, Powerlifting, Kabaddi and Judo. It is now going to introduce long tennis and goal ball in the country.
To ensure highest level of professionalism and fair conduct of competitions, services of professional and experienced referees and technical officials are being taken on board. The competitions will be conducted in accordance with international norms for blind sports as stipulated by International Blind Sports Federation and International Paralympic Committee.
