Inclusive Sports Take the Spotlight at 67th State School Sports Meet

Thiruvananthapuram: The 67th State School Sports Meet, modeled on the Olympics, is underway in Kerala, having been officially inaugurated yesterday. Today, inclusive sports capture attention as students with physical and visual impairments participate across a wide range of disciplines. A total of 1,944 athletes are competing, divided into age categories for under and over 14 years. From track relays and standing throws to mixed badminton and the debut of girls’ boxball, the competitions highlight skill, determination, and teamwork, showcasing the remarkable talent present in schools across the state.
Athletics: Speed and Strength

Inclusive athletics events include the 4x100 mixed relay, mixed standing throw, mixed standing long jump, and the 100-meter sprint. Visually impaired athletes use guide runners for support, running the final lap with guidance. In mixed standing long jump and throw, six-member teams take three attempts per participant, with the longest jump or throw of each athlete contributing to the team’s total score. The 100-meter sprint is exclusively for visually impaired participants, assisted by guide runners.

Mixed Badminton

Players with similar disabilities compete on the court simultaneously, while partners are drawn from the general category. Standard badminton rules apply, and winners are determined through a best-of-three sets format.
Boxball: Girls’ Bocce Competition

For the first time, girls are participating in Bocce, a variation of boxball. Two teams of five players compete on a 4-meter-wide, 20-meter-long court, with 3-meter-wide boxes marked at each end. The team winning the toss rolls the pallina, a small white ball, aiming to place it closest to the target without crossing the end line. Players take turns rolling their balls, scoring points for proximity to the pallina. The first team to reach five points wins a set, and matches are played in a best-of-three sets format.
Team Sports for Students with Disabilities

Cricket competitions are for boys, with 10 of the 11 team members required to have disabilities. Matches use a tennis ball, and players with lower limb limitations can use standby runners. The six-over games include a power play for the first three overs. Handball teams feature six girls with disabilities and one child from the general category, with all standard rules applied. Football matches consist of seven-player teams, including one player from the general category, with five substitutes, and a duration of 30 minutes.