National coaching camp for specially-abled persons organised in Chennai

Chennai, July 30 (ANI): A four-day-long national badminton coaching camp for specially-abled persons was organised in Chennai.

Nearly 450 specially-abled persons across India took part in the training for the Special Olympics, which would be held in Athens in 2011.

"When we spot the good talents over here, we tell the coaches to train them in the same discipline when they go back to their district or go back to their states they will practice, after that, they come for state and national meet," said Paul Devasagayam, Sports Director of Special Olympics Bharat organization of Tamil Nadu.

The aim of the camp is to spot talent in specially-abled children, as they do not have facilities for such training in their own districts as many are from poor backgrounds.

Devasagayam further said athletes are prepared for district-level meets and from there they go for state level, progressing to the national level if they perform well. The best athletes are then selected for international meets.

Athletes and coaches came from various states such as Goa, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Pondicherry and Tamil Nadu.I have come here for badminton practice. It is my dream that I participate in 2011 Olympics," said Manjunath, a badminton player in the camp.

In 1968 at Illinois the Special Olympics movement was started. By Jay Kumar (ANI)