PURPLE FEST 2023 ANNOUNCES SPORTS RELATED NATIONAL EVENTS IN GOA

Panaji, 30^th December 2022: Purple Fest 2023, Let’s celebrate diversity will be held on the 6^th 8^th January 2023 Entertainment Society of Goa, Panaji Goa. The event is jointly organized by the Goa State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities in collaboration with the Goa Social and Entertainment Society. The various national sports-related events to be organized at Purple Fest 2023 were announced today.

Purple Fest leads Special Olympics during the festival in Panaji. The Olympics consist of All India Open Para Table Tennis Championship, Unified Beach Cricket, Blind Cricket and Purple I-Run Marathon.

Sports are huge in our country. And with 2.5-5% of people with disabilities, it is imperative to promote sports to this large community. During the three sports days, events such as All India Open Para Table Tennis Championships, Unified Beach Cricket, Blind Cricket and Purple I-Run Marathon is considered to be the first national level PwD championship hosted by the Goa government, says Guruprasad Pawaskar, State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, Goa.

Para Table Tennis is one of the most unique sports in the Para Sports program where players are classified into 10 categories based on disability as follows: Para table tennis players in categories 1-5 compete in a wheelchair, Para table tennis players in categories 6-10 compete in a standing position.

Unified Beach Cricket introduced for the first time in India. Beach cricket is a casual variation of the game that anyone can play. Everyone is free to make up their own rules, making it a great game for families and friends.

Blind cricket is a version of cricket adapted for blind and partially sighted players. Blind cricket relies on a ‘sweep shot’ which is commonly used to increase the likelihood of the bat hitting the ball.

Purple I-Run Goa Marathon is Goas first national marathon for 21 types of disabilities. The goal of this marathon is to promote the inclusion and acceptance of disabled people in our society. People with disabilities run together with regular runners in all age groups.

“During Purple Fest, the Special Olympics will be held
Unified Beach Cricket to be played at Miramar Beach on the 3rd^rd January. Baggo and Bocce games will be introduced on the 6th^th January in Inox. It is a great feeling to have Unified Beach Cricket being introduced for the first time in India here at Purple Fest,” says Victor R. Vaz, National Sports Director, Special Olympics Bharat and Coordinator of Unified Beach Cricket.

Para TT has been a sport that has brought Para players into the limelight of success. Playing Para TT has been seen to benefit mind and body stimulation, coordination. Mental alertness and focus, as well as developing mental focus and keeping your brain sharp. I am happy to be a part of the Purple Fest and I encourage everyone to come and support the ParaPlayers.says Sudesh Gaude, Associate Professor of Psychiatric Social Work, Institute of Psychiatry and Human Behavior Bambolim-Goa and Moderator at Purple Fest All India Open Para Table Tennis Championship Goa

“This is one of the best events happening in Goa. Disability has been transformed and will be transformed into visibility with such a wonderful initiative. I appreciate and commend Social Welfare Minister Subhash Phaldesai for pacing the Purple Fest in an extremely important and dedicated manner,” says Yeshwant Nageshkar, Captain Goa Blind Cricket Team.

Purple I-Run Goa Marathon, which is Goas first national marathon for 21 types of disabilities. “It is a half marathon event which will be held at Dr.Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Stadium, Bambolim on Sunday, 8^th January 2023. The goal of this marathon is to promote the inclusion and acceptance of disabled people in our society. People with disabilities run together with regular runners in all age groups, he says Mr. Praveen Maurya, Director-I-Help Foundation

All India Open Table Tennis Championships

• Players are classified into 10 classifications based on injury as follows:
  • The best table tennis players in grades 1-5 compete in a wheelchair,
  • Para Table tennis players in grades 6-10 compete in a standing position.
• The classification of unclassified players will be held on 06^th January 2023 from 9.30 am to 12.30 pm by official graders at SAG Campal.
• Reclassification is not permitted.
• The championship will be held on the 7th^th January 2023 from 7:00 a.m. at SAG Campali.

Unified Beach Cricket

• Unified Beach Cricket at Miramar Beach 9am 3rd^rd January 2023.
• Presentation of the Baggo and Bocce game on January 6 at Inox from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
• The team consists of 4 special athletes and 2 Patners (sux playing members in the team)
• The playing area is 50mtrs x 50mtrs.
• Matches are played in 6 sets per half.
• Each player bowls one match and each batsman faces six deliveries.
• Only one batsman bats at a time
• The match is played for 30 min. each innings has a 2-minute break.

Blind cricket

• Blind Cricket will be held at Gymkhana on the 5th^th Jan and Dhabandodra 7^th and 08^th January 2023 from 09:00.
• There are six teams from Goa, Chhattisgarh, Pondicherry, Telangana, Maharashtra and Kerela. Dr. Ketan Bhatikar, Medical Director GCA is the coordinator of blind cricket.

Purple I-Run Marathon

• Goas FirstNational Marathon for 21 types of disabilities. It is a half marathon event held at Dr.Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Stadium, Bambolim on Sunday 8th.^th January 2023. The goal of this marathon is to promote the inclusion and acceptance of disabled people in our society. People with disabilities run together with regular runners in all age groups.

Purple Fest: Celebrating Diversity: India’s first inclusive festival where people with disabilities are celebrated and celebrated. It is brought by the Office of the State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, Government of Goa in association with Government of Goa, Entertainment Society of Goa, Government of Goa, Tourism and Development Corporation of Goa and Information and Publicity Department. , Government of Goa.