The Sports Authority of India has assumed responsibility for all matters relating to Para-athletes ©SAI

India’s Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has officially handed responsibility for all matters relating to Para-athletes to the Sports Authority of India (SAI) following the suspension of the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI). 

As well as taking care of athlete selection for various events, the SAI will also be in charge of coaching camps and Para-athlete entries for international tournaments.

Set up to promote sports and games, the SAI is a successor organisation of the 1982 Asian Games held in New Delhi. 

Last month, the PCI was suspended for the third time since its formation in 1991, for what was described as gross mismanagement following a catalogue of problems and conflicts between different groups and individuals.

Problems came to a head at the National Para-Athletics Championships in Ghaziabad, where athletes were reportedly housed in uncompleted buildings and left without access to drinking water and toilets.

But despite the ban on the PCI, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) gave India permission to compete at international competitions under the IPC flag last week. 

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) gave India permission to compete at international competitions under the IPC flag last week
The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) gave India permission to compete at international competitions under the IPC flag last week ©Getty Images

“In order to protect the interest of Para-athletes in the country, the Ministry has already requested [the] International Paralympic Committee to take certain steps including permitting SAI to send entries of Para-athletes of the country to international competitions,” read a statement from the Sports Ministry.

India's sporting problems have by no means just been confined to Paralympic sport, with 13 national sporting federations supporting a move to see Indian Olympic Association President N Ramachandran replaced, calling for an Extraordinary General Meeting to press for a no-confidence vote.

But Indian Para-athletes have competed in events not under the specific auspice of the PCI despite the ban, with a squad of 15 having attended the recent International Blind Sport Federation World Games in Seoul, with Triptpal Singh winning two bronze medals in powerlifting.


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