ITANAGAR, 2 Sep: The Paralympic Association of Arunachal (PAA) called for a stronger coordination between the state and district-level affiliated units and for developing a structured mechanism to increase district participation in para sports.
The PAA stressed that grassroots development and wider district participation are essential for building a strong talent pool and ensuring that deserving athletes from every part of Arunachal Pradesh receive opportunities to train, compete and progress to higher levels of competition.
On Wednesday, the PAA held a state-level coordination meeting with its affiliated district para sports associations to discuss key issues concerning the promotion, development and expansion of para sports across the state.
The meeting, presided over by PAA chairman Takam Pario, put special emphasis on taking sporting activities to the grassroots level and creating an effective talent identification and development pathway for promising athletes with disabilities.
The participants discussed the need for regular district-level competitions, talent scouting programmes, athlete development initiatives and greater participation in state-level championships.
Strengthening the capacity of affiliated associations, coaches, technical officials and other stakeholders was also highlighted as an important component of sustainable para sports development.
The preparations for Arunachal Pradesh's participation in the 3rd Northeast Para Games 2026, scheduled to be held from 27 to 29 November 2026 was also reviewed during the meeting.
The association said that it will initiate focused preparations to ensure that the state's para athletes are adequately prepared for the regional multi-sport competition.
As part of the preparation, a specialised coaching and training camp will be organized during October for selected athletes. The camp will focus on systematic training, performance improvement, technical preparation and overall readiness of the state contingent.
During the meeting, the PAA and its affiliated associations reaffirmed their commitment to working in close coordination with the departments concerned and other stakeholders for a systematic growth of para sports in the state.
