All posts tagged: Paralympic Committee of India

SBI Life named Principal Partner of India’s para contingent for 2026 season

SBI Life named Principal Partner of India’s para contingent for 2026 season

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SBI Life Insurance, one of India’s most trusted private life insurers, today announced the strengthening of its partnership with the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI), becoming the ‘Principal Partner’ of the Indian Contingent for the 2026 para sports season. The company will act as the ‘Official Life Insurance Partner’ for the Indian Paralympic Contingent that will be heading to the upcoming Commonwealth Para Games 2026 in Glasgow and the Asian Para Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. Building on its successful association with India’s para-athletes during the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, SBI Life continues to champion stories of determination, preparation, and excellence that inspire individuals to pursue their aspirations with confidence. Through this partnership, SBI Life aims to recognise and amplify the journeys of India’s elite para-athletes, as high-performance competitors who continue to redefine possibilities through their dedication and commitment. Their journeys highlight a universal truth—that aspirations can be pursued when individuals have the confidence, support, and preparation to move forward. Speaking on the partnership, Mr. Ravindra Sharma, Chief of Brand, Corporate Communication & CSR, SBI …

‘BAI is ignorant and apathetic’, Paralympic champion Nitesh wants PCI to take over

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Delhi: Paralympic gold medalist Nitesh Kumar’s criticism of the Badminton Association of India for lack of recognition and the administrative mess has created a stir on social media. The gold medalist in men’s singles SL3 category, Nitesh took to social media platform X to criticise BAI and asked for para-badminton to be transferred under the aegis of the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) “It has been happening for quite some time. We didn’t want to do anything then as the Paris Paralympics was coming up. But now that the Paralympics is done, I think it is the right time to discuss it,” the shuttler told The Bridge on a phone call. “The basics are lacking and there is no appreciation from the federation. It happened during the Asian Para Games too when we won 21 medals but there was no appreciation or anything from the federation,” he added further. Apart from the lack of recognition, Nitesh cited the administrative mess, logistical challenges, and lack of attention to the issues of the para-shuttlers. “At the world …

Paralympic star Kumar Nitesh cites BAI apathy, wants badminton to be placed under PCI | Sport-others News

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Frustrated with the lack of recognition and administrative wrangling within the Badminton Association of India (BAI), Paralympic champion Kumar Nitesh has called for para badminton to be transferred under the aegis of Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) for the sport’s betterment and progress. The 29-year-old from Haryana, who secured a historic gold medal in the SL3 class at the Paris Paralympics, said para shuttlers needed to be treated on par with their able-bodied counterparts. “We have won 21 medals at the Asian Para Games, around 14-15 medals at the World Championships, and 5 medals at the Paralympics, but we don’t receive basic appreciation from BAI,” Kumar told PTI. “This isn’t a new issue; it’s a recurring problem. Their attention remains solely on able-bodied athletes, with minimal effort to promote para badminton.” Kumar also expressed his dissatisfaction on social media after BAI congratulated the para shuttlers on their Paris performance via Twitter. “Despite the occasional social media appreciation from @BAI_Media, we, the athletes, are highly dissatisfied with BAI’s lack of interest in para badminton. “We sincerely …

Devendra Jhajharia appointed as President of Paralympic Committee of India

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The Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) welcomed a familiar face to its top leadership position today as multiple-time Paralympic medallist Devendra Jhajharia was appointed as the President. This development comes after the Sports Ministry revoked the suspension imposed on PCI earlier this month. Devendra Jhajharia, a prominent figure in Indian Paralympic history, secured two gold medals for the country during his illustrious career as a javelin thrower. His first gold came at the 2004 Athens Paralympics, followed by another triumph at the 2016 Rio Paralympics. Jhajharia also added a silver medal to his collection in the Tokyo Paralympics in 2021. The Sports Ministry’s decision to lift the suspension on March 5 was a result of PCI’s initiation of the election process for its executive committee. The ministry had previously terminated PCI’s recognition citing “intentional delay to elect a new executive committee” in accordance with the National Sports Code. Originally scheduled to take place before January 31, the PCI elections were postponed to March 28 due to the upcoming Para Shooting World Cup from March 6-15. …

Sports Ministry revokes suspension of Paralympic Committee of India

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The Sports Ministry has revoked the suspension imposed on the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) on Tuesday. The decision came after PCI initiated the process of its pending elections in which multiple-time Paralympic medallist Devendra Jhajharia is set to be elected President. On February 2, the ministry terminated PCI’s recognition for “intentional delay to elect a new executive committee” as per the National Sports Code. The PCI had postponed the elections, which should have been held before January 31 this year, to March 28 because of the impending Para Shooting World Cup from March 6-15. After its suspension, the body proposed March 9 as the new date to elect governing body members and began the process of nominations. Most of its top posts are set to be filled without any contest. The ministry said that the “main ground for suspension of government recognition” has been addressed. “…since the election process has reached the stage where the nominated candidates have been deemed to be duly elected unanimously, as well as the important fact that PCI is …

Returning Officer mandates Sports code strictly for PCI elections in March

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The returning officer for elections of the suspended Paralympic Committee of India announced on Saturday that the elections will be conducted strictly under the Sports Code and the contestants as well as the voting members must adhere to the age and tenure guidelines. Former Election Commission of India Secretary General Umesh Sinha, who was appointed the returning officer on Wednesday, said in a notification that candidates can file their nomination papers from February 27 to 29. The Electoral College members will be notified by Sinha on Monday after receiving the list of names from the PCI. “…if the representatives of the State Associations to the National Federation and the representatives of the District Associations/bodies to the State Association are not compliant of the age and tenure restrictions imposed by the Sports Code, then they shall not constitute the electoral college and shall be disqualified from contesting for any post of the executive committee and also from casting their vote for such an election,” Umesh wrote in Saturday’s notification. He cited a judgement of the Delhi …

Paralympic Committee of India proposes new date of election

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The Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) has suggested a new election date to hold the polls for the new governing body and revoke the suspension from the Sports Ministry. The PCI had postponed the elections, which should have been held before January 31 this year as per the Sports Code, to March 28 because of the impending Para Shooting World Cup from March 6-15. Earlier this month, the Sports Ministry suspended PCI for delaying the elections as per the National Sports Development Code of India. In a meeting between Sports Ministry officials and PCI office-bearers on Thursday, PCI proposed 9th March as the new date of elections to get the suspension revoked. Despite getting the backing of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), the PCI will have to adhere to the government’s guidelines on elections and the law of the land to get the suspension lifted. On 12th February, IPC, the world governing body for para sports, rejected the sports ministry’s suggestion for forming an ad-hoc panel to run the affairs of PCI. IPC told ministry …

IPC refuses to intervene in Paralympic Committee of India ban

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The international governing body for para-sports has refused to intervene in the ban of the Paralympic Committee of India and rejected the sports ministry’s suggestion for forming an ad-hoc panel to run the affairs of the PCI. The Sports Ministry government suspended the national body for not holding elections on time earlier in the month. While suspending the PCI on February 2, the ministry directed the Sports Authority of India (SAI) to coordinate with the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) to form an ad-hoc committee to run the daily affairs of the PCI and conduct transparent elections. However, the IPC has categorically told the sports ministry that the current governance of the PCI does not require any intervention. They also said that PCI hasn’t breached any of its member obligations. The current PCI administration, under Deepa Malik, had claimed that the elections were postponed given the Para Shooting World Cup to be held in India from March 6 to 15. “We are not in a position to form an ad hoc committee with the Sports Authority …

Para Shooting World Cup becomes uncertain after sports ministry suspends PCI

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Uncertainty looms on next month’s Para Shooting World Cup in India after the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, on Sunday, suspended the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) for failing to hold the elections on time. The Para Shooting World Cup, scheduled at the Karni Singh Ranges in New Delhi from March 6-15, is the first-ever mega para shooting competition India was set to host. The event offers 24 Paris Paralympic quota spots. The sports ministry, in its order of February 2, revoked PCI’s recognition for “intentional delay” by the national body “to elect a new executive committee” as per the National Sports Code. The ministry also asked the Sports Authority of India (SAI) to form an ad-hoc committee to run the daily affairs of the federation. PCI’s four-year term ended on January 31 this year, and the federation scheduled the elections for March 28 this year. More than 500 pistol, rifle and shotgun shooters from 52 countries are scheduled to take part in the Para Shooting World Cup along with several Indian shooters, who …

Sports Ministry suspends Paralympic Committee of India

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Paralympics Committee of India (PCI)- headed by Deepa Malik has been suspended by the sports ministry for violating the sports code and misgovernance on Sunday. Terming the delay in elections as ‘intentional and unlawful’, Sports Ministry took the decision. In a letter dated 02/02/2024, Sports Ministry has directed Sports Authority of India (SAI) to form an ad-hoc committee composed of eminent sportspersons and administrators to safeguard the interest of the Indian para-sports persons. The ministry has also directed SAI to inform the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) regarding the same. The suspension means that Indian para athletes won’t be able to take part in any IPC-sanctioned tournaments under the Indian flag. “Whereas taking note of the intentional delay by the PCI in the conduct of the election to elect a new executive committee, vis a vis the essentiality of upholding good governance and accountability standards in sports federations nationwide and the requirements of all the NSFs, NOC, NPC to adhere strictly to the Sports Code, the Government is left with no choice but to suspend the …