NEW DELHI, March 12: The escalating conflict in West Asia has dealt a major blow to the ongoing World Para Athletics Grand Prix here, with participation shrinking drastically as only six foreign nations ultimately made it to Indian shores, despite nearly 30 countries having earlier confirmed their presence.
Coaches associated with the Indian team said the war, coupled with the holy month of Ramzan, played a significant role in drastically reducing participation numbers, adding that that while 18 foreign nations had travelled for India’s inaugural edition of the World Para Athletics Grand Prix at the same venue last year, the organisers could not replicate those numbers this time.A total of 257 athletes are competing in the Grand Prix, the second leg of the season, with India fielding a massive 219 participants across multiple track-and-field events and sport classifications. Russia has the second-largest contingent with 40 para athletes, while the remaining countries account for only a minuscule presence in comparison.“The event has been hit hard by the ongoing conflict in the Gulf as well as Ramzan. Around seven to eight Muslim countries could not make the trip because of that (Ramzan). Several International Paralympic Committee officials were also unable to travel and had to be replaced at the last minute as they were not getting flights into India,” said a coach of a renowned para athlete on condition of anonymity.“Most of the connecting flights come via Dubai and the Gulf and with the disruptions they (athletes) had to cancel their trips,” said the coach.The inaugural in Dubai last month featured athletes from 53 nations, lending the competition a truly international flavour, but the event in India has been largely dominated by the hosts. (PTI)
