IBSA National Sports Meet

Indian Blind Sports Association organized National Sports meet for the blind that bring hundreds of enthusiastic participants from all over the country.

With 133 institutions and sports organizations from 23 states affiliated to it Indian Blind Sports Association is the largest national level sports body devoted to the promotion of sports among the visually challenged in the country. The Association was established in April 1986 through the initiative of the Blind Relief Association, Delhi (BRA), a premier organization for the blind in India. The objective was to promote national-level sports activities for the blind. The Association is registered as a non-profit body under Societies Registration Act. The Association is recognized by the Indian Olympic Association and affiliated to the International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA), representing India in this apex sports body of the visually challenged. It is also affiliated with the Paralympic Committee of India.

Jointly with BRA, the Indian Blind Sports Association has been organizing National Sports Meets for the Blind that bring together at one place hundreds of enthusiastic blind sportsperson from all over the country, once every two years. These National Sports Meets, which include athletic events like races, long jump, javelin and discus throws, shot put, swimming along with indoor game event of chess, have earned the reputation of being the largest and premier sports event for the visually challenged. The Association ( IBSA) is making every effort to raise the profile of blind sports. On one hand it is organizing coaching camps and seminars on blind sports for promoting quality and excellence, on the other it is striving for media coverage of events and achievements of blind sportsperson. The association strongly believes that blind sports is no less serious an activity than the mainstream sports. With this belief the Association is working hard on marketing blind sports events to corporate houses and get them interested in this largely unexplored area.
The Association has a duly elected Executive Committee, which manages the Affairs of the Association’s activities. The present members of the committee are:-

Mr. Kartikeya Bharat Ram – Chairman
Mr. S. K. Misra – Vice Chairman
Mr. K. C. Pande – Vice Chairman
Mr. P. C. Mehta – Hony General Secretary
Mr. A. K. Mittal – Joint Secretary
Mr. B. L. Bhardwaj – Joint Secretary
Mr. C. P. Mohanan – Treasurer
Mr. D. P. Pathak – Member
Mr. C. M. M. N. Shariff – Member
Mr. Gurpreet Singh – Member
Mr. Thokchom Dorendro Singh – Member
Late. Mrs. Manju Bharat Ram – Founder Chairperson

The four day Meet was inaugurated on 11th Dec 2012 by Shri Vijay Inder Singla, Member of Parliament. Later the Chairman of IBSA Shri Krtikeya Bharat Ram in his address highlighted the growing standards of Indian Blind Athletes.
The 18th National Sports Meet is being attended by nearly 600 athletes and sports officials from 15 states across the country. The meet conforming such tracks and field events as 100, 200, 400, 800, 1500, 5000m and relay races as, Shot put, Javelin throw And long jump. A National Chess competition is taking place at the premises of the Blind Relief Association which is the co-host of the meet.

Sponsors of the event were as follows:
SUBROS
THE LALIT, NEW DELHI
SRF
KAYCEE DIGITAL WORKS PVT LTD
SUN FOUNDATION
B. R. A.
PIONEER
ONGC
AMRAVATI
IBSA

Institutes Which Participated In 18th National Sports Meet:

Vocational Rehabilitation Training Centre , Ludhiana , Punjab
Jsb Free Residential School For The Blinds, Ramnagaram, Karnataka
Spandan Welfare Trust, Laxminagar, Delhi
Andhjan Shikshan Mandal, Gujrat
Shri K.K School And Home For The Blind Trust, Bhavnagar Gujrat
Govt. Sr Sec. School For The Blind Boys, Sewa Kutir , Kingsway Camp, Delhi
J.P.M Sr.Sec. School For The Blind, New Delhi
Inst For The Blind , Chandigarh
Chandigarh Chess And Sports Ass For The Blinds, Chandigarh
National Ass Of Yhe Blinds, Valsad, Gujrat
Netttraheen Samaj Sewa Sangh, Ambala Cantt, Haryana
Inst For The Blind Andh Vidyalaya, Amar Colony, Delhi
Shri Sharda Devi Andhara Vasathi Shala, Shivamogga, Karnataka
Viklang Shikshan Sewa Trust, Surat, Gujrat
National Blind Youth Ass, Patparganj, Delhi
All India Andh Stri-Hit Ass, Mumbai
Academy Of Taekwondo And Sports , Chattarpur, Delhi
Life Line Care Org, Gol Mkt, Delhi
Ashakiran Residential School For The Blind, Chickmaglur, Karnataka
M.K Mehta School For The Visually Handicapped, Palanpur, Gujrat
M.P Welfare Ass For The Blind, Indore M.P
Andh Apang Vikas Sangh, Satara, Maharashtra
National Asso For The Blind, Faridabad, Haryana
Amravati Dist Paralympic Asso , Amravati, Maharashtra
Society For The Welfare Of The Blind, Narendrapur, Kolkata
Govt Ideal Blind School, Takyel, Manipur
The Welfare Asso For The Blind, Takyel Manipur
Kirorimal College, Du
Dnyan Jyoti Niwas Andh Vidhyalaya, Nagpur
Hostel For College Going Blind Students, Kingsway Camp, Delhi
Equal Oppurtunity Cell , Du
Ramjas College, Du
National Inst For The Visually Handicapped, Dehradun, Uk
Dr. Narendra Bhivapurkar Andh Vidyalaya, Amravati Maharashtra
Deepanjali Trust For The Disabled, Banglore
Shri Jagdamba Andh Vidyalaya, Sriganganagar, Rajasthan
Voice Of Worl, Kolkata
Divya Jyoti Jagrati Sansthan, Delhi
Anand Singh Smarak Khel Avam Sanskritik Samiti, Jhilmil Colony, Delhi
Durgabai Deshmukh College Of Special Education, Delhi
National Federation Of The Blind, Pushp Vihar, Delhi
Integrated Education Implementation Committee, Madurai
Sri Venkateshwara College, Du
National Asso For The Blind, Chandigarh
Netraheen Vikas Sansthan, Jodhpur, Rajasthan
Bihar Blind Sports Asso, Patna, Bihar
Punjab Sports Asso For The Blind, Ludhiana
Visually Impaired Sports And Welfareasso, Punjab
B. R. A., Delhi
St. Michaels School For The Blind Ranchi

Antardrishti – one of the social welfare wings of Divya Jyoti Jagrati Sansthan (DJJS), working for the people with visual impairment and physical handicap, also participated in the 18th National sports meet. Antardrishti’s, core objective behind participation was to unearth the hidden potential and to enhance & encourage the talent and skills of the people with disabilities together with reinforcement of their lowering self esteem.

Under the divine guidance and far-sighted approach of Shri Ashutosh Maharaj Ji, especially for this section of the society, around 6 visually impaired participated in the sports meet, and accordingly, necessary trainings and suitable sports related accessories/kits were provided to them. On the whole, Swami Sumedhanand Ji, took the complete charge of the carrying out all the necessary formalities relating to Antardrishti’s participation in the event and monitoring all the activities and performance of the participant’s, right from the preparation phase to the execution phase.

Volunteer support was very much required and Swami Ji arranged very active and caring team for the ANTARDRISHTI’S brothers including: Mr. Aditya Bhardwaj, Mr. Anuj kumar, Mr. Mrinal Sachdeva, Mr. Deepak, Ms. Deepali.
All participants participated with huge enthusiasm and fighting spirit.

This sports meet also acted as a platform for showcasing the work of Antardrishti as during the event many people were curious to know about DJJS initiative for Visually & physically challenged they inquired & got information from volunteers about Antardrishti & shown a keen desire to visit Antardrishti factory.

Towards the end of the meet, the winners were honored and prized with Certificates, Medals and Gift Hampers along with an affirmation on getting a direct entry to participate in the International-level Sports meet. It is a matter of great pride that 15 new national records were set at this event.
Ending ceremony was arranged on 14th Dec 2012 at B. R. A. campus and headed by the Committee Members with chief guest Mr. T. Nepolian (Minister of Social Justice & Empowerment, Govt of India).
So, all the Antardrishti participants came back with renewed energy and with new founded dreams of bright future to lead in sports as well in their life in general. This event infused in them a great deal of self-worth, harness their hidden talents and enthused them with a will to perform even better in future competitions. They experienced a sense of joy and contentment and achieved an optimistic approach to lead a life full of dignity. For them physical handicap is no more a curse.