KOCHI: Did the organisers underestimate the capabilities of athletes participating in inclusive sports events at the Kerala State Schools’ Sports Meet? Evidence from the U-14 mixed standing throw event at Maharaja’s College stadium on Tuesday seems to suggest so.
A throw from one of the athletes went beyond the field of play and the organisers’ expectations. This resulted in a two-hour delay as it forced the organisers to change the field of play.
The inclusive athletics competition was a team event, comprising five disabled students and one general category athlete. The organisers set up a 24-metre field of play for the inclusive sports event. However, they failed to consider that one general category athlete was also competing in the inclusive sport team event.
The area marked for the throw proved inadequate when Idukki’s Gajanand Sahu (general category athlete) flung the ball beyond 40 metres and sent it over the fence. The organisers took a lot of time retrieving the lost ball and, in the meantime, decided to relocate the field of play.
Although Gajanand’s first two attempts were deemed invalid for improper technique, his final throw reached 39 metres. However, Idukki's total distance of 116.68m only helped them finish third. Thrissur emerged victorious with 137.63m, followed by Palakkad (134.67m) and Thiruvananthapuram (120.51m).
“Usually, the throw ball events are held in the throw pits on the field. Since the inclusive games football matches are also being held here, we had to conduct the event on track. But it’s a fact that we didn't expect athletes participating in inclusive sports to throw the ball so far,” said a sports official involved in the organisation of inclusive sports.
What is throw ball?
The athletes should throw the rubber ball without any shoulder movement. Also, they should not rotate their wrists, and both legs should touch the ground at the time of releasing the ball. The event is held as a team game in the Kerala State Schools ’ Sports Meet with six players in each team.
A throw from one of the athletes went beyond the field of play and the organisers’ expectations. This resulted in a two-hour delay as it forced the organisers to change the field of play.
The inclusive athletics competition was a team event, comprising five disabled students and one general category athlete. The organisers set up a 24-metre field of play for the inclusive sports event. However, they failed to consider that one general category athlete was also competing in the inclusive sport team event.
The area marked for the throw proved inadequate when Idukki’s Gajanand Sahu (general category athlete) flung the ball beyond 40 metres and sent it over the fence. The organisers took a lot of time retrieving the lost ball and, in the meantime, decided to relocate the field of play.
Although Gajanand’s first two attempts were deemed invalid for improper technique, his final throw reached 39 metres. However, Idukki's total distance of 116.68m only helped them finish third. Thrissur emerged victorious with 137.63m, followed by Palakkad (134.67m) and Thiruvananthapuram (120.51m).
“Usually, the throw ball events are held in the throw pits on the field. Since the inclusive games football matches are also being held here, we had to conduct the event on track. But it’s a fact that we didn't expect athletes participating in inclusive sports to throw the ball so far,” said a sports official involved in the organisation of inclusive sports.
What is throw ball?
The athletes should throw the rubber ball without any shoulder movement. Also, they should not rotate their wrists, and both legs should touch the ground at the time of releasing the ball. The event is held as a team game in the Kerala State Schools ’ Sports Meet with six players in each team.
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