CHENNAI, SEPTEMBER 4:
Sam Morris
Tamil Nadu’s visually impaired men’s Goalball team won the silver medal at the IBSA 2nd Youth National Goalball Championship 2026, held from August 20 to 23 at the Gujarat Sports Complex in Nadiad, Gujarat.
Organised by the Indian Blind Sports Association (IBSA), the championship brought together young Goalball players from across the country and also served as a selection event for the IBSA World Youth Championship 2026. Representatives of the Sports Authority of India and the Paralympic Committee of India observed the tournament.
Hosts Gujarat won the gold, with Tamil Nadu finishing runners-up and Delhi taking the bronze. The Tamil Nadu men produced a determined performance throughout the competition to emerge among the country’s leading young Goalball teams.
The silver-winning squad comprised Chathrapathi D, Ahilendiran D, Sivaneshwaran N, Abishek Kumar V, Surya T and Barath R.
The Tamil Nadu women’s team — Manoja Sri M, Mugeshwari M, Divyadharshini M, Fargana J, Kamala M and Yuvadharshini S — also put up a strong fight but narrowly missed out on a place in the semi-finals.
Coaches played key role
The men’s team was coached by V. Maheswaran of Salem, a Judo coach for visually impaired athletes who took up Goalball after recognising the players’ enthusiasm and potential.
Maheswaran developed his understanding of the sport through instructional videos and guidance from his son. He also received assistance from members of the Telangana Goalball team during a selection camp in Chennai.
The women’s team was supported by Praiscey, who moved into physical education and para sports after spending five years in the IT sector. She later joined the YMCA College of Physical Education, Nandanam.
Building Goalball in Tamil Nadu
The Goalball Association of Tamil Nadu (TNG), registered as a state-level sports association under Registration No. 09/2026, is working to expand the sport among visually impaired athletes across the State.
In association with Lit The Light Trust, TNG conducted a State-Level Goalball Championship on July 25 to identify promising players and select the Tamil Nadu contingent for the national championship.
The association has also been working with the trust since 2026 to strengthen grassroots development and create more opportunities for visually impaired athletes to compete at higher levels.
The Tamil Nadu team acknowledged the support of the Rajasthan Youth Association Foundation (RYA) and Lit The Light Trust, whose assistance helped the players travel to Gujarat and participate in the national championship.
The silver medal is not only a sporting achievement for the young athletes but also highlights the importance of creating equal opportunities for persons with disabilities in competitive sport. Their performance has provided fresh momentum to the growth of Goalball in Tamil Nadu and the identification of athletes who could represent the State and India at international competitions.