Odisha is preparing for National Para Athletics event.

Bhubaneswar is set to host the 24th National Para Athletics Championship 2026 from March 18 to 21 at the Kalinga Stadium, in collaboration with the Paralympic Committee of India, the Sports & Youth Services Department, Government of Odisha, and the Para Sports Association of Odisha. This championship is a symbol of the state's strong commitment towards promoting an inclusive and thriving sports culture. The grand opening ceremony will take place on March 18 at 4:00 PM at the Kalinga Stadium, with the presence of Shri Suryabanshi Suraj, the Minister for Sports and Youth Services, who will inaugurate the event.

Mr. Satyanarayana, Chairman of Para Athletics for the PCI, announced that the championship will host around 1,460 para-athletes from 28 states, along with teams from the Border Security Force and the Services Sports Control Board, competing in a total of 145 medal events. The competition will be held in both morning and evening sessions from March 19 to 21, with the morning sessions scheduled from 9 am to 11 am and the evening sessions from 4 pm to 8 pm.

The host state of Odisha will have a strong contingent of 40 athletes, led by Ms. Suchitra Parida, the national record holder in the F55 Javelin throw event. Haryana will have the largest contingent, as they are the defending champions from the 23rd National Para Athletics Championship held in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

The championship will also see the participation of renowned Paralympic medallists, Arjuna Awardees, Asian Games medallists, and World Championship medallists such as Mariyappan Thangavelu, Sumit Antil, Navdeep Singh, Praveen Kumar, Preethi Pal, Shailesh Kumar, Rakeshbhai Bhatt, Rohit Kumar, Devendra Singh Gurjar, Poonam, Lakshmi, Jayanti Behera, Yogesh Kathuniya, Dharambir, and Pranav Soorma among others. The Government of Odisha has extended maximum support in terms of logistics and finances for the successful organization of the championship. This event will serve as a platform to celebrate the determination, perseverance, and sporting excellence of elite performers, emerging talents, and promising young athletes.

It will also play a crucial role in identifying potential candidates for the upcoming Asian Para Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan in October 2026 and other international competitions. During the press conference, it was highlighted that the main focus of this championship is to discover and nurture talents from rural areas and promote para sports in the country, with the aim of preparing them for top podium finishes at national and international levels. National coaching camps will also be conducted to provide focused training and development for athletes who are potential candidates for the upcoming Asian Games and Commonwealth Games.

The growth of para sports in India has been remarkable, from winning a single medal at the 2012 London Paralympics to a commendable haul of 29 medals at the 2024 Paris Paralympics. The progress in this field is credited to the unwavering support of the Government of India and the Sports Authority of India. The long-term vision is to prepare athletes for the 2028 LA Paralympics and the 2030 Commonwealth Games in Ahmedabad, ensuring sustained excellence on the global stage.

The press conference was attended by B K Swain, OAS, Additional Secretary of the Sports and Youth Services Department, Odisha; Kamala Kanta Ratha, President, Para Sports Association of Odisha; Satyanarayana, Chairman of Para Athletics, PCI; Jayanti Behera, Para Asian Games medalist; and Markanda Reddy, Paralympian. In addition, Orissa POST, Odisha's No.1 English Daily, will also be a part of this grand event. The 24th National Para Athletics Championship in Bhubaneswar is a significant step towards promoting an inclusive and thriving sports culture in India, and it is an event that should not be missed.