Paralympic athletes welcome Coimbatore Corporation’s proposal for paralympic sports complex

Paralympic athletes in Coimbatore have welcomed the Corporation’s proposal to set up an integrated paralympic sports complex in Kavundampalayam, saying a dedicated facility in the city is essential for training.

A senior Corporation official said a ₹12-crore paralympic sports complex with 2,317 sq. mt built up area is proposed to be built on 2.42 acres vacant land along Jeeva Nagar Main Road in Kavundampalayam, after getting government approval.

The proposed indoor facilities include two badminton courts, a basketball court, two table tennis courts, a boccia court, an administrative block, locker rooms, toilets, a food court, lifts and ramps, and a conference hall. Outdoor facilities will include an open ground, a running track, and parking space.

K. Muthuraja, bronze medallist in shot put at the 2023 Asian Para Games, said he had built a fully equipped ground for training, but many para-athletes cannot afford to create similar practice spaces as they struggle to meet daily support care expenses. Athletes recognised by the Sports Authority of India can train at the para centre in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, but travel and diet make it inaccessible for many. “If a facility is built in our hometown, it will be a boost for many aspiring para-athletes,” he said.

A. Kanniyappan, a para-athlete in ten-pin bowling, said athletes currently identify a private facility on a rental basis and train together as there is no coach or dedicated centre.

Sharmila Ram Anand, president of the Coimbatore Para Sports Association, said there are over 100 para-athletes in the district. “Even if the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT) appoints a coach, there is no place to train the athletes,” she said. Athletes rely on private institutions for training in each sport, and monetary support from the SDAT is limited to select players.