December 13–15, 2024 | Guru Nanak Public School, Sarabha Nagar, Ludhiana
Special Olympics Bharat, Punjab, organized the 1st North Zone Special Olympics Games and the 25th (Silver Jubilee) Punjab State Special Olympics Games from December 13–15, 2024, at Guru Nanak Public School, Sarabha Nagar, Ludhiana. The event saw the participation of 60 schools, with over 800 players and coaches, coming together for three days of competitive sports and celebration of talent.
The inaugural ceremony was graced by esteemed chief guests, including Deputy Commissioner S. Jatinder Jorwal and Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker S. Kultar Singh Sandhwan Ji, who addressed the athletes, coaches, and spectators, emphasizing the importance of inclusion and perseverance.
Among the many participants, 19 students from Bhagat Puran Singh Special School Manawala, Amritsar shone brightly across various events, including Athletics, Shot-Put, SBT, Bocce, Roller Skating, and Powerlifting. The students brought home an impressive 14 Gold, 9 Silver, and 7 Bronze medals, securing the 2nd Position and the Overall Trophy at the North Zone Special Olympics level.
In addition to their remarkable achievements at the regional games, Marina (an athlete) and Coach Simranjit Kaur were honored for their participation in the South Asia 7-a-side Unified Football held in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Their efforts were recognized with certificates, acknowledging their dedication and sportsmanship.
The event was also a moment for recognizing the invaluable contributions of the coaches who supported these athletes. Coaches Simranjit Kaur, Manjit, Navdeep Singh, and Charanjit Singh were all presented with certificates for their commitment. Coach Navdeep Singh received special recognition for his outstanding efforts in coaching.
In a heartwarming gesture, Bibi Dr. Inderjit Kaur, President of All India Pingalwara Charitable Society (Regd.) Amritsar, congratulated the students and coaches for their remarkable achievements, presenting them with medals and certificates. Principal Anita Batra Ji of Bhagat Puran Singh Special School also honored the winners, expressing her pride and admiration for the hard work and perseverance demonstrated by the students and their coaches.
The school’s principal and dedicated staff played a pivotal role in preparing the athletes for the competition, ensuring that every child had the support and encouragement they needed to succeed.
This event not only highlighted the sporting excellence of children with special needs but also reaffirmed the values of inclusion, sportsmanship, and community support that the Special Olympics represent.
