INDIAN BLIND SPORTS ASSOCIATION
Annual Report for the year 2012-13

The Indian Blind Sports Association (IBSA) continued pursuing its objective of promoting sports among visually impaired persons both at national as well as international level during the year under report.  The main features of the Association's   programmes during the year were: 

•	Expanding the range of its partner affiliates;
•	Conferment of prestigious Awards;
•	Conduct of 18th National Sports Meet;
•	Selection and coaching of budding blind athletes to participate in 2012 London Paralympics.

Details of these and related activities and developments are presented in the succeeding paragraphs.

Expanding Horizons:

Mr. K.C. Pande, Hony. Vice Chairperson participated in the special General Body Meeting of Paralympic Committee of India held on 29th March, 2013 on behalf of Indian Blind Sports Association.

During the year, IBSA Affiliations were granted to the following organizations:

1.	Blind Judo Association, Dehradun, Uttarakhand;
2.	Divya Jyoti Jagrati Sansthan, Delhi;
3.	Andha Apang Vikas Sangh, Satara, Maharashtra;
4.	Society for the Welfare of the Blind, Narendrapur, Kolkata, West Bengal;
5.	Academy of Taekwondo and Sports Special Provisions for Persons with Disabilities, New Delhi;
6.	P.G.D.A.V.  College, University of Delhi, Delhi
7.	Kirori Mal College, University of Delhi, Delhi;
8.	Life Line Care Organisation, New Delhi;
9.	Netraheen Samaj Sewa Sangh, Ambala Cantt., Haryana;
10.	Ramjas College, University of Delhi, Delhi;
11.	Deepaanjali Trust for the Disabled, Bangalore, Karnataka;
12.	The Karnataka Welfare Association for the Blind, Bangalore, Karnataka;
13.	Odisha State Chess Federation of the Blind, Bhubaneswar, Orissa;
14.	Sir Venkateswara College, University of Delhi, Delhi;
15.	Society for Rehabilitation of Visually Challenged, Kochi (Kerala).

We welcome all these new affiliates.

Awards:

The year under review proved momentous for the Association as one of its budding athletes, Mr.  Ram Karan Singh, was presented the prestigious Arjuna Award for his achievements in various international events and Dr.  Satyapal Singh, our Chief Coach, was conferred the coveted Dronacharya Award.

Coaching Camp:

In early 2012 Indian Blind Sports Association was assigned the responsibility of conducting a Special Coaching Camp for providing necessary training to blind sports persons having requisite potential to qualify for London Paralympic-2012 by Sports Authority of India and Paralympic Committee of India.  The Camp was held at the premises of the Blind Relief Association, under the  aegis of IBSA, from 5th March 2012 to 25th July 2012.  On the basis of the performance in various national/international   events, 7 sports persons from States of Maharashtra, Delhi, Uttarakhand and Karnataka, including one female athlete, underwent vigorous training under the watchful eye of Dr.  Satyapal Singh, Chief Coach.

Although most of the budding blind athletes attained MQS-A or MQS-B, none of them could actually take part in the 2012 London Paralympics as they could not fit into the quota assigned to India by International Paralympic Committee.

National Sports Meet:

The National Sports Meet for the Blind organized every alternate year by Indian Blind Sports Association is the largest and the most prestigious sports event for the visually challenged athletes in the country.  Being held regularly since 1982, the National Sports Meet has immensely helped in generating interest in and spreading sports culture amongst institutions and visually challenged youth all over the country.  This year, it was the turn of the 18th such Meet.  The event had added significance this time.  It was taking place just a few months prior to the 4th Fazaa International Athletics Competition scheduled in March 2013 in Dubai, and could act as a stepping stone for a probable chance to compete at the IPC (International Paralympics Committee) World Championships.  The event thus provided the most appropriate opportunity to spot talented visually challenged sportspersons, who could be considered for representing the country at the forthcoming Fazaa Competition, 2013.  So, the excitement was high, the expectation immense.

Organization and Participation: The 18th IBSA National Sports Meet was held at the Jawahar Lal Nehru Stadium as per the given dates    i.e. 11th    to 14th December 2012.  Nearly 600 athletes and officials from 49 institutions/organizations belonging to 14 States/Union Territories attended the Meet. The Participating states were Chandigarh, Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Manipur, Orissa, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand and West Bengal.

A unique feature of the Meet, this year, had been the record number of entries from the women participants.

Another unique feature of the Meet was presentation of medals on each evening by renowned personalities/eminent sports persons like Mr.  Prasanna Kumar Pincha, Chief Commissioner (Disabilities), Mr. Ashwini Kumar, Project Officer, SAI, Mr.  Dinesh Kumar, Asian Games Silver Medalist and Mr. Parimarjan Negi, the young Chess Grand Master.

Inauguration and Closing: Shri Vijay Inder Singla, Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) inaugurated the Meet at the beautiful Jawahar Lal Nehru Athletic Stadium on 11th  December, 2012.  Lauding the spirit of the blind sportspersons, Shri Singla invited IBSA to hold the next nationals in his  constituency, Sangrur (Punjab).

The Meet concluded with the valedictory ceremony held in the evening of 14th December when Mr.  D.  Nepoleon, the then Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Govt.  of India,  awarded the Championship Trophies to the winning teams and formally declared the Meet closed.  He lauded the efforts of IBSA in promoting sports amongst the blind and offered to help the Association in achieving its goal.

Categories of Participation and Events: The athletic competitions were held separately for Intermediate (14-17 yrs) and Open (not below 14 yrs of age as on 31.12.2012) categories.  They were divided into male and female groups.

The athletes were placed in three sections as per their visual status -- B1 (No light perception in either eye up to light perception but inability to recognize the shape of a hand at any distance or in any direction), B2 (From ability to recognize the shape of a hand up to visual acuity of 2/60 and/or visual field of less than 5 degrees) and B3 (From visual acuity of above 2/60 up to visual acuity of 6/60 and/or visual field of more than 5 degree and less than 20 degrees).

The athletics competition had the following track and field events: Intermediate Category: Girls -- 100M, 400M, 800M, 1500M, Shot Put (4 kg), Long Jump, Discus (1 kg), javelin (600 gm), Relay (4 x100 M) Boys -- 100M, 400M, 800M, 1500M, Shot Put (5 kg), Long Jump, Discus (1.5 kg), javelin (600 gm), Relay (4x 100 M)

Open Category: Women -- 100M, 200 M, 400M, 800M, 1500M, Shot Put (4 kg), Long Jump, Discus (1 Kg), javelin (600 gm), Relay (4x100M), (4x 400M) Men -- 100M, 200M, 400M, 800M, 1500M, Shot Putgg7.26 kg), Long Jump, Discus (2 kg), javelin, 800 gm), Relay (4x100M), (4x 400M).

The Chess competition took place at the premises of the Blind Relief Association.  Players from 30 Institutions/organizations affiliated to IBSA participated.  The competition was conducted according to the Swiss League Round system.  A total of 5 (five) rounds were played, with the winner securing 1 point, the losers nil and half point being awarded for drawn games.

In the Chess event, Haryana's    rated chess player, Rakesh Narwal, won the Gold Medal with 5 points.

Mr. Parimarjan Negi, noted young Chess Grand Master presented medals to the winners and also interacted with a number of blind sportspersons.

Technical Officials: The Meet was conducted under the watchful eye of qualified and competent sports officials.  A team of technical officials from the Athletic Federation of India (AFI), Delhi acted as line judges, track umpires, starters etc.  Their services were complemented by a team of competent officials from Indira Gandhi Institute of Physical Education, Delhi University.  The Chess competition was conducted by two officials from Delhi Chess Association, one of whom was an international arbiter with experience of 3 Chess Olympiad and one visually impaired IBSA official.

Computerization of Entries/Records  and Photo Finish System: Towards professional and efficient management of the events during the Meet, IBSA ensured computerization of registration of entries, event planning and maintenance of record and making available the results promptly from the 17th National Meet held in Panchkula, in 2010.

To get accurate timings and avoid any controversy, photo finish system was deployed.

Team Championships: Overall Team Championship Trophies were awarded separately for male and female groups according to different categories and sections.  The Trophies were worked out on the basis of the medals won by the teams, with 5, 3 and 1 point respectively awarded for Gold, Silver and Bronze medals.

Results are as follows:
Intermediate
Category	Organization 	Points	
B1 Girls	Institute for the Blind, Chandigarh	13 	
B2 Girls	Shri Sharda Devi Andh Vidyalaya, Sivamogga, Karnataka	15 	
B3 Girls	Voice of World, Kolkatta, West Bengal	10	
B1  Boys	Institute for the Blind, Chandigarh	13	
B2 Boys	Ashakiran Residential School for the Blind Children, Chickmanglur, Karnataka	18	
B3  Boys	National Institute for the Visually Handicapped, Dehradun, Uttarakhand  	10
	
	J.P.M. Sr. Sec. School for the Blind, Delhi	10	

Open Category 

Category	Organization 	Points	
B1  Women	Ashakiran Residential School for the Blind Children, Chickmanglur, Karnataka	15	
B2  Women	Dnyan Jyoti Niwasi Andh Vidyalaya, Nagpur, Maharashtra	15	
B3  Women	Voice of World, Kolkata, West Bengal	15	
B1 Men	Ashakiran Residential School for the Blind Children, Chickmanglur, Karnataka	15	
B2  Men	National Blind Youth Association, Delhi	23	
B3 Men	Anand Singh Smarak Khel Avam Sanskrit Samiti, Delhi &
Hostel for College Going Blind Students, Delhi	15
15	

Logistics: The stay arrangements of the participants were made at the premises of the Blind Relief Association.

Waterproof tents ensuring protection from chilly winter, were pitched in the Association premises to accommodate a large number of participants, as well as for dining facilities and recreation programmes.

Some Highlights of the Meet:

•	The Meet had a total of 49 teams, whereas the preceding two meets had about 40.  The Meet had two sports disciplines-athletics and chess.  
•	150 girls and women took part in the Meet in different capacities, accounting for around 25% of the total participants in the Meet.  
•	A total of 21 new records were set during this 4-day Meet, including national records created by women athletes.  
•	The following athletes emerged as the fastest totally blind (B-1) runners, winning gold medals in the 100 mtrs. sprint:-

Category	Name of athlete	Institution	Timing	
Girls	Savitha	Asha Kiran Residential School for the Blind, Chickmanglur	16.94	
Boys	Arpit Kumar	Institute for the Blind, Chandigarh	13.51	
Men	Md. Ishrafil 	Bihar Blind Sports Association, Patna	12.91	
Women	Soumiya	Asha Kiran Residential School for the Blind, Chickmanglur	15.92	

Acknowledgement: IBSA owes a big "thank you"   to Athletic Federation, Delhi, Delhi Chess Federation, Sports Authority of India.  But for their support and cooperation, the meet would not have been a great success.

IBSA would like to place on record its sincere gratitude to Dr.  Satyapal Singh, BRA and IBSA Staff Members for their unstinting support and cooperation.

The Association would also like to acknowledge with gratitude the support received from various donors, who lent financial and/or logistic support for holding the Meet.  The main donors were:

1.	The Blind Relief Association, Delhi
2.	M/s. Oil & Natural Gas Commission
3.	M/s. SRF Limited
4.	M/s. Subros Limited
5.	M/s. Pioneer Publicity Corporation
6.	M/s. Amravati Group, Chandigarh. (logistic support)

Obituary:

The entire blind sports fraternity including the participants of the Meet were shocked to learn about the sad and untimely demise of the Founder Chairperson of IBSA, Mrs.  Manju Bharat, Ram on the evening of 12th December.  A condolence meeting was held on 12th evening itself in which glowing tributes were paid to her for her invaluable contribution in promoting sports amongst the blind in the country.