07-07-2025
Not Olympics but Abilympics for disabled concludes in Mumbai, 26 win medals
At the World Trade Centre, Mumbai, the second and final day of the West Zone Regional Abilympics 2025 came to a close. Over two days, 67 participants with disabilities from Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Goa competed in over 15 vocational skill categories -- from ICT to craft, hospitality, and Abilympics, also known as the 'Work Skill Olympics for People with Disabilities,' is a national effort led by the National Abilympic Association of India (NAAI) and Sarthak Educational Trust, supported by the DEPwD and partners such as TPCDT, WTC, and IndusInd NOT SYMPATHYThe event was a test of skill. And it delivered. From engineering design to cake decoration, candidates proved that talent needs no sympathy -- only a platform.
Ten Gold, nine Silver, and seven Bronze medals were awarded. Many of these winners will now head to the National Abilympics in Gurugram this November -- one step closer to the global stage in Finland, 2027.
In ICT, Rupa Dhanjibhai from Surat topped engineering design. In craft, Pune artists swept the Crochet and Painting categories. The hospitality segment saw Pune's Manohar Nadimetal win Gold in cleaning Kashif clinched Gold in patisserie. In services, Vadodara's Amisha Varia won Hair Dressing, while Jaipur's Bhavesh stood out in GRAND PHRASES, JUST JOB-READYDay 2 also hosted a job fair. Candidates with different disabilities were interviewed by recruiters from Zepto, Yes Bank, Barbeque Nation and others. The goal was simple -- move from recognition to the closing, Mahesh Bhatt and Pooja Bhatt shared their thoughts. 'Empowering others is the highest purpose,' said Bhatt. 'Inclusion begins when we honour difference,' said Jitender Aggarwal, the man behind Sarthak and NAAI, kept it clear: 'These are not just winners. They are ready for real work. And India must be ready to offer it.' With 64% of India's 2.68 crore PwDs unemployed, this event was not a celebration -- it was a call to act.- Ends
