Bhubaneswar: The 24th National Para Athletics Championship 2026 is set to take place at the iconic Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar, from March 18 to 21. Organised by the Paralympic Committee of India in collaboration with the Sports & Youth Services Department, Government of Odisha, and the Para Sports Association of Odisha, the championship underscores the state’s commitment to promoting an inclusive sporting culture.
The grand opening ceremony will begin at 4 pm on March 18, with Suryabanshi Suraj, Minister for Sports and Youth Services, set to inaugurate the event.
According to Satyanarayana, Chairman of Para Athletics, PCI, the championship will see participation from approximately 1,460 para-athletes representing 28 states, along with teams from the Border Security Force (BSF) and the Services Sports Control Board (SSCB). Events will be held in morning and evening sessions.
Odisha will field a strong contingent of 40 athletes, led by F55 Javelin throw national record holder Suchitra Parida. Haryana, the defending champion from the 23rd edition held in Chennai, will send the largest team.
The event will feature several distinguished Paralympic medallists, Arjuna Awardees, Asian Games medallists, and World Championship medallists, including Mariyappan Thangavelu (Gold – Rio 2016, Silver – Tokyo 2020, Bronze – Paris 2024), Sumit Antil (F64) (Tokyo 2020, Paris 2024), Navdeep Singh (F41) (Gold – Paris 2024 Paralympic Games), Praveen Kumar (T64) (Silver – Tokyo 2020, Gold – Paris 2024), Preethi Pal, Shailesh Kumar, Rakeshbhai Bhatt, Rohit Kumar, Devendra Singh Gurjar, Poonam, Lakshmi, Jayanti Behera (Asian Para Games Medallist), Yogesh Kathuniya, Dharambir (Gold Medallist), Pranav Soorma, and others.
The Government of Odisha has extended full logistical and financial support for the event. The championship will serve as a platform for elite performers, emerging talents, and promising young athletes, and will aid in the selection of probable athletes for the Asian Para Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, and other international competitions.
Satyanarayana highlighted that the championship also focuses on identifying rural talent and promoting para sports across the country, with national coaching camps planned for athletes preparing for the Asian and Commonwealth Games.
Para sports in India have grown remarkably, from a single medal at London 2012 to 29 medals at Paris 2024. “Para sports are growing at an unprecedented pace, and our athletes are determined to strengthen India’s global standing,” he said. The long-term goal is to prepare athletes for the LA 2028 Paralympics and the 2030 Commonwealth Games in Ahmedabad.
The Paralympic Committee of India has urged media outlets to extensively cover the championship to raise awareness and inspire individuals with physical challenges to take up sports, fostering confidence, independence, and empowerment.
