Army Inter Regimental Para-Games in action from August 20 to 22
The 17th Army Inter Regimental Para-Games 2014 will be worked off at the Sugathadasa Stadium from August 20 to 22. The games
Action from a wheel chair basketball game.
were inaugurated in 1991 to develop the physical and mental stability of the soldiers who were disabled partly or full due to the internal strife.
This year’s tournament consists of fifteen events and events such as Badminton, Wheel Chair Basketball, Table Tennis, Wheel Chair Tennis, Weight Lifting, Swimming, Volleyball, Beach Archery. Two events –Wheel Chair Marathon and cycling are already over.
The Inter Regimental Cricket Tournament and the Air Rifle
A wheel Chair tennis game in progress
Shooting championship will take place on the 14th and 15th and it is planned to hold the Athletic events on grand scale for three days starting from 20th and ending on the 22nd. Sri Lanka Army can boast of the performances of their Para-athletes who have done well at international events in disciplines such as Badminton, Volleyball, Swimming and track events. It was a very special year for the Army as well as for the country when their athlete S/Sgt Pradeep Sanjaya of the Sri Lanka Singha Regiment won the first Paralympics Bronze medal when he completed the 400metres event in 49.28 seconds at the London Paralympics games in 2012.
Sergeant Pradeep Sanjaya also won at the World Paralympics Games held in France when he won the bronze medal in the same event.
To further encouragement of the injured soldiers the organisers have invited China, India, Pakistan, Singapore and Malaysia to take part in this year’s games. This is mainly to encourage the soldiers for international exposure. For the first time in the Para-Games history retired disabled soldiers will also participate representing their regiments in this year’s games. A total of 1050 competitors will take part in the event including 450 participants in athletics.
The event is also the final selection trial to pick the Sri Lanka squad for the Asian Paralympics Games in Incheon, South Korea
in October.
The opening ceremony will be on August 20 and the closing ceremony will take place on the 22nd with the presence of distinguished invitees.