National Youth Para Games begin with a spirit of determination

A spirited celebration of amputee football brought together 45 players on Monday at the Fayyaz Stadium, adjacent to the National Parliament, organised by the National Paralympic Committee of Bangladesh.

The day-long event featured training sessions and trials, culminating in the preliminary selection of 20 standout players poised to represent Bangladesh in domestic and international competitions. Participants displayed remarkable skill, some playing with prosthetic limbs while others relied on crutches, highlighting the determination and talent of physically challenged footballers.

Former national star Kaiser Hamid attended the event, visibly moved by the players’ performance. “Allah has given us so much. We became national stars through football, but witnessing the sheer skill of these physically challenged players is truly inspiring. I will always support them,” he said.

Awards were presented to the winners by Mo. Selim Fakir, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, alongside Kaiser Hamid. The event also saw the presence of former footballer Mamunul Islam, Yakub Sujan Bhuiya, Managing Director of Mangoline PLC, Sharmin Farhan, Founder and CEO of Sports for Hope and Independence, Subhash Sinha, Manager of ICRC, and NPC officials including Secretary Dr. Maruf Ahmed and Joint Secretary and former cricketer Sanowar Hossain.

The festival not only celebrated the spirit of amputee football but also marked a significant step towards nurturing talent and promoting inclusivity in Bangladesh sports.