Dronacharya Awardee coach Satyapal Singh says India para athletes are looking to improve their performance on home ground
Navneet Singh
Post 2024 Paris Paralympics Games there has been more emphasis on para-sports particularly para-athletics in the country. The Indian contingent had a rich haul of 29 medals, seven of them gold at the Paris Paralympic Games.
On the back of such stupendous performance, India will host the 2025 World Para Athletics Championships here at New Delhi’s iconic Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. Sportsbackstory spoke to Satyapal Singh, Dronacharya Awardee in para-athletics to know more about the preparation.
The Delhi based para-athletics coach was honoured with Padma Shri this year for his contribution towards para-sports in the country. Praveen Kumar, a trainee of Satyapal Singh, was also honoured with Khel Ratna award in January this year for winning back-to-back medals at the Paralympic Games. He won gold in the Paris Paralympics, following his silver in Tokyo.
Excerpts
Q Indian Grand Prix was recently held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. Your views on the event?
A. It was overall a good experience for the competitors. Moreover, the Indian Grand Prix was sort of a test event for the 2025 World Para Athletics Championships in September/October to be hosted at the same venue.
Q The track at JLN stadium has worn out and facilities and not in great shape. What changes are expected to upgrade the facilities before the conduct of global para competition?
A. The main synthetic track will be re-laid. The warm-up track will also be changed. The basic facilities like washrooms will have wheelchair accessibility. There will also be a fitness centre at the warmup ground.
Q How many countries are expected to compete at the 2025 Para World Athletics Championships in India?
A. Around 100 nations are expected to compete and the number of para-athletes would be around 1200.
Q How do you see the performance of India at the 2024 World Para
Athletics Championships in Japan?
A. The performance was good. The Indian contingent won 17 medals. The number of para-athletes who competed were 51.
Q What are the main events you expect Indian para athletes to win a medal on the home ground at World Para Athletics Championships?
A. India should dominate both javelin throw and high jump competitions. We will have a large contingent competing at the event. Our para athletes are excited to give their best in front of home fans. We are expecting our tally to improve from the previous edition. Para sport in India is growing and this global event will help us set a new benchmark.
