Chennai: To empower the coaches and administrators of the wheelchair basketball and to promote disability rights and inclusiveness, the US Consulate General in Chennai is sponsoring a two-week exchange program for 15 coaches and administrators of wheelchair basketball in the United States from 16 to 31 March.
President and founder of the Wheelchair Basketball Federation of India, Madhavi Latha, Coach, Wheelchair Basketball, Chennai, Thayumana Subramanian, Coach, Wheelchair Basketball, Karnataka, Lee Roy Simon and president, Ernakulam District Paralympic committee, Mathew K Joseph are among the six participants who will be participating in the program.
Speaking to News Today, Madhavi Latha said “This is a first of a kind initiative where the administrators of the Wheelchair Basketball Federation will be visiting a foreign country and see the facilities they have for Wheelchair Basketball. It is a great opportunity and since US is in a very advanced level in terms of the sport, through this program we can learn a lot.”
The programme is a sports-based international exchange that helps increase dialogue and cultural understanding between the United States and other nations.
During the program, the participants will engage in sessions on leadership, team building and on inclusion and equity in sport. They will also participate in coaching clinics and will attend an NBA game and National Wheelchair Basketball tournament.
“US has a very good system in place for the sport place so with us going there we will know about the techniques and it also provides us an opportunity of networking with them. We can also get to know about their culture. After this program if there is an opportunity for us to send athletes for an exchange program it will really help the sport in our country,” said Matthew K Joseph.
The Wheelchair Basketball association was formed five years ago and currently it has 23 state associations affiliated in it with more than 600 players and 90 coaches and administrators.