Delhi Education Minister Ashish Sood opens Special Olympics Powerlifting Championship, announces up to Rs 15 lakh rewards and new facilities for athletes.

Ashish Sood, the Education Minister of Delhi, officially opened the Special Olympics Bharat National Powerlifting Championship on Wednesday at Maitreyi College. Talented disabled athletes from all across the nation compete in the event, which is organized by Special Olympics Bharat Delhi in association with the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.

Ashish Sood stated during the event that the special needs children’s energy and spirit are incredibly motivating. “The very children who were once considered neglected by society are today bringing glory to India in international sports through their hard work and determination,” he said. India has demonstrated that its talent is boundless by capturing 29 medals at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, he continued, and he praised Special Olympics Bharat’s contribution to this effort.

The education minister declared that a state-of-the-art stadium and a residential sports facility for children with special needs will soon be established in the capital by the Delhi government. Sood added that sportsmen have greatly benefited from the reduction of the GST on sporting goods from 12% to 5% as a result of Prime Minister Modi’s efforts.

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Additionally, the Delhi government has determined that Special Olympic World Games winners will be given different honors and will not be given the same treatment as Paralympic participants. Gold medal winners would receive Rs 1,500,000 in cash rewards, silver medal winners Rs 1,200,000, and bronze medal winners Rs 800,000. Winners of team competitions can take home prizes of up to Rs 2,000,000.

The minister promised the athletes that the Delhi government will be at the airport to greet and honor them, and he urged them to bring gold from the next competitions in Chile. He also commended Mallika Nadda, Special Olympics Bharat’s national chairperson, for her efforts on this occasion.