Twenty-one female wheelchair basketball athletes from all over India have come together in Visakhapatnam for a revolutionary 14-day intense training camp at the Andhra Pradesh MedTech Zone (AMTZ). The camp is organized by the Wheelchair Basketball Federation of India (WBFI) and will help prepare players for the coming Asia-Oceania Zone Games and the Asian Para Games, both of which are key qualifiers for the 2028 Paralympics.
Key Highlights:
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This is the inaugural time that these athletes are training as a group, building team chemistry and coordination necessary for international competition.
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The camp is being directed by coach-captain Louis George Meprath, who calls it a game-changer for Indian women's wheelchair basketball.
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The initiative is part of a larger plan: AMTZ and WBFI plan to host eight national camps this year and set up a dedicated Para Sports Academy.
Players come from varied backgrounds and have overcome huge personal obstacles. For instance, double amputee Nisha Gupta from Maharashtra discovered new strength and purpose with the sport.
Indian captain Geeta Chauhan stressed that the camp also bridges regional divisions and fosters harmony.
Campers are given world-class equipment, facilities, and support, which many don't have access to in their home states.
AMTZ and WBFI are also aggressively seeking new talent with the goal of strengthening India's position in international para-sports.
Source: The Hans India