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Time of India
24-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Swimming is best form of therapy for children with special needs
CHENNAI: No matter how much occupational or speech therapy they tried for their son, nothing matched the impact swimming had, says Balaji Kannan, a PR professional. 'His comprehension has improved, his spatial awareness is better, and he's started becoming vocal,' he says about Hruday B, who has ADHD and moderate autism spectrum disorder. Hruday still isn't fully conversational, but he is able to express himself now. Some, like 14-year-old V Krithik, have developed a passion for the sport. 'It became his calling. He went from hyperactive and restless to being focused,' says his mother, Gayathri V. Many parents of children with visual and hearing impairments, and intellectual disabilities are turning to swimming to help regulate their children's hyperactivity and sensory issues. Pools such as SDAT's in Velachery and the one at National Institute for Empowerment of Persons with Multiple Disabilities (NIEMPD) in Muttukadu offer free classes. Unlike regular facilities, the hydrotherapy pool at NIEMPD maintains a water temperature of 36°C (while regular pools are 24°C) to avoid sensory overload and relieve pain for wheelchair users, says Dr B S Santhosh Kanna, head of the department of physiotherapy. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trade Bitcoin & Ethereum – No Wallet Needed! IC Markets Start Now Undo 'We incorporate play activities with balls and floatation devices. The pool is shallow and wheelchair accessible.' But what is it about swimming that seems to work? 'The pressure of the water during swimming regulates their anxiety and eases sensory issues,' says Sharanya Ravichandran, behavioural therapist and clinical psychologist. 'It helps improve their emotional, motor, social and communication skills and over time, they follow instructions better.' However, it may not work for all as some struggle with arm movement or kicking. Most are nonverbal initially and hesitant to enter the water. 'Our first step is to teach them how to float, and we build from there,' says Selvan Kandasamy, director of Yadhavi Sport Academy. Training children with special needs requires immense patience and emotional support as many of them deal with low muscle tone, difficulties in sensory processing or communication barriers. But the payoff is enormous. 'Many children are now coming in to train for national open water swimming tournaments and there is a growing interest in the city. Recently we trained a child for a 12km race,' says M D Thouseef, a physiotherapist at Saga Physio. For many children, swimming has become a potential career. 'My son wants to pursue a career in swimming. We will be opting for the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) system, which provides educational opportunities to those who may not be able to attend regular schools,' says Balaji.
Time of India
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Athletes aren't born, they're scientifically made here
Chennai: Hailing from a poor family in Thanjavur, 28-year-old Rosy Meena Paulraj, a national gold medallist in pole vault in 2022 with 4.2m and bronze medallist in the Asian Games, struggled to keep her aspirations alive for the Olympics. Rehabilitation, training, and nutritional support were simply unaffordable in private centres. Her Olympic dream got a fresh lease of life as the Tamil Nadu govt launched a cutting-edge Sports Science Centre — the first of its kind in the state — in the heart of the city to sculpt world-class athletes through science and precision. Inaugurated a month ago by sports minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, the 3-crore facility set up by the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT) is already attracting medal-winning athletes like Rosy. Located at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, the centre offers everything under one roof: biomechanics analysis, reflex calculator, sprint training with automated timers on 40-metre tracks, and cryotherapy (ice/heat) rehab. It also offers massage therapy, sports nutrition, ball and rubber balancing, and psychological counselling, with over ten staff members taking on different roles. Around 25 athletes train here daily in disciplines ranging from fencing and kite surfing to javelin and pole vault, apart from sprint. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trade Bitcoin & Ethereum – No Wallet Needed! IC Markets Start Now Undo "For pole vault, the initial run and body posture are key. In this centre, the real-time camera helps with identifying delays in the initial thrust. The coach here helps me correct it," said Rosy, who trains here every evening at 4 pm. She also receives strength training and cardio here. As it is located right in the Nehru Stadium, athletes can stay in the hostel to train whenever they want. Nineteen-year-old P Aravindhan, who participated in the World Fencing Championship, said he is training here to recover from a knee injury. "They do cryotherapy, generating ice through the machine. Apart from this, balancing training and rope strength training are also done. The facility helps in overall improvement," he said. The centre is free for international, national, and state event athletes who are in the high-performance category. The rest need to pay up to Rs 5,000 for 10 sessions. Saju Joseph, manager of the centre, said recovery is an important factor in sports, apart from training. "We study injury patterns and provide not just corrective treatment but also identify the cause. If athletes are wrong in posture, it could hurt a certain muscle. Hence, we correct the posture," he said, adding that injury recovery involves massage training. "We have psychologists to understand why some athletes have a delay in initial thrust during a sprint when the gun shoots, and relieve related anxiety," he said. In this centre, nutritionists also provide food suggestions to help athletes reduce carbs and improve protein intake. "TN athletes at home naturally consume idly, dosa, poori, or pongal as breakfast. This doesn't have any protein. We recommend small changes with the addition of chickpeas, soya, chicken, egg, and beef, which could increase protein intake and strength. We also follow it up in this centre every day when they come," said J Lavanya, sports nutritionist at the centre. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Brother's Day wishes , messages and quotes !
Time of India
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Second international cricket stadium to host gigs, events
Boasting of a 30,000-seat gallery and seven cricket pitches, Tamil Nadu's second international cricket stadium , after Chennai's MA Chidambaram Stadium , is taking shape near Coimbatore, with the govt finalising key design and usage plans. Announced in 2024, the stadium spread across 30 acres will have a sub-air drainage system that can clear 10,000 litres of water per minute. It will be built at 500cr and is being modelled on Perth's Optus Stadium — a multi-purpose venue that hosts top-tier cricket, football, and entertainment events in the Australian city. The design will allow for both day and night matches, and even concerts and large gatherings, said senior officials from the sports department. The playing field will span 140 metres north to south and 170 metres east to west. "Boundary lengths will be decided during the match. In some dimensions, it will be shorter than the Chepauk stadium, and in some, it can be longer," said an official with the sports department. Overall, it could range between 60 and 75 metres. A meeting was held on May 13, with SDAT, TNCA, Collage Design, design consultant, and Knight Frank Pvt Ltd, a real estate and commercial consultancy. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Did You Know Luxury Hotel Prices in 2025 Could Be So Low? Expertinspector Learn More Undo Here, it was decided that Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) will support in the pitch maintenance and also handle cricket-related matters. A separate contractor or agency created under SDAT will handle non-sporting events to generate revenue through stadiums, like in Varanasi, Dehradun and Vizag. A meet was held with TNCA to finalise the maintenance plans. "Non-sporting events will fetch revenue for the govt, while the organiser and TNCA will generate revenue from cricketing events," said the official. "There will be lower and upper stands, and the net seats are 30,000 but it could be reduced with black screens covering up a few seats. A jogging facility and swimming pool is also planned apart from digital display boards," added the official. "We are exploring a sub air drainage system, like the one used in Chinnaswamy stadium, Bengaluru, to ensure water drains faster during rains," said the official. This system works with vacuum suction and can drain the outfield in 20 minutes after rain stops. The govt has identified land in an open-air prison area in Ondipudur which is 9km from the Coimbatore International Airport. The blueprint will be sent to the CM shortly, and construction will begin thereafter. The stadium is aimed at beefing up cricket infra in western Tamil Nadu, and is expected to be ready by end of 2027. Email your feedback with name and address to
The Hindu
03-05-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
Indoor stadium remains incomplete in Pudukottai for eight years
Athletes in Pudukkottai have urged the State government to complete the long-stalled construction of a multipurpose indoor stadium at the district sports ground, which remains unused for the past eight years. The stadium project was sanctioned in 2017–18 with an initial estimated cost of ₹1.5 crore to construct a facility measuring 16 metres in breadth and 30 metres in length. It was part of a larger initiative by Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT) to establish Multipurpose Indoor Stadiums in 20 districts, each with a budget of ₹1.5 crore. However, during a review led by the then Collector S. Ganesh, it was decided to scale up the structure to 30 metres by 60 metres, at a revised cost of ₹4.62 crore, to meet international standards. The additional funds were to be mobilised through public contributions. Following this, the Public Works Department (PWD) awarded the construction contract and work commenced. A sum of ₹1 crore was collected from the public and contributed through the State's Namakku Naame scheme, under which the government matches contributions in a 1:2 ratio. While the core building structure was completed, funds under the scheme were not released, leaving the project without essential installations such as doors, windows, and sports infrastructure. Despite being envisioned as a world-class facility, the indoor stadium project remains incomplete. Sources said, the stadium can seat up to 1,000 spectators and is intended to support a wide range of indoor sports, including volleyball, basketball, badminton, boxing, and taekwondo. It is equipped to host international-level shuttle tournaments with space for eight badminton courts, and features removable flooring to accommodate up to four volleyball courts and other team or individual sports. Planned amenities include separate toilet blocks for men and women, dressing rooms for women athletes, and four administrative rooms. A recent visit by the State Legislature's Public Accounts Committee, headed by MLA K Selvaperunthagai, expressed dissatisfaction over the delay. The project was also flagged in a recent report by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India. When contacted, a senior official from the Department of Sports and Youth Welfare said the indoor stadium was constructed by the PWD, while the Namakku Naame contributions were handled by the Rural Development Department. 'Due to the involvement of multiple departments, the ₹3 crore matching grant under the scheme was never released,' the official explained. The official added that the ₹1 crore collected from the public has since been reimbursed to the contractor, along with the originally sanctioned ₹1.5 crore. A fresh proposal seeking ₹4.66 crore to complete the remaining works and install training infrastructure has been submitted to the government. 'Work will resume once financial approval is obtained,' the official said.
Time of India
30-04-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Summer camps an escape from screen time for kids
Madurai: Time was when summer holidays meant spending time at home or at grandparents' homes with family or playing on the streets with friends. Cut to 2025 and summer holidays mean school kids getting a chance to play games or browse mobile phones and tablets for extended periods. Summer camp activities have hence turned into the go-to option for parents looking to keep their children engaged while pulling them away from digital screens. With summer camps in schools put on hold by district collector M S Sangeetha over safety concerns, those run by govt and private entities outside schools have become a hit among school children. Many parents are keen to enrol their kids in swimming and ongoing sports summer camps held by Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT). "We are, in fact, conducting swimming classes for 12 days per batch in groups of 25 kids to avoid crowding and ensure safety. Around 300 kids are enrolled in free sports coaching camps," said S Raja, district sports officer. Coaching is being provided for athletics, volleyball, football, hockey, and handball, with nutritious snacks like eggs, pulses, and biscuits. Theekshna Rajesh Kumar, a 33-year-old mother of two from Villapuram, said her daughter, a UKG student, is being enrolled in a summer camp. "A lot of her time is spent watching digital screens, be it her favourite cartoons or playing games. The summer heat and unsafe roads make it difficult to let her go out to play freely," she said. Workshops under 'Kodai Kondattam' to be conducted from May 1 at Kalaignar Centenary Library are set to offer a wide range of activities for school kids, from story writing to designing and video editing. Some of the popular choices for summer activities among parents and kids include drawing, art and crafts, painting, dance, Zumba, yoga, spoken English/Hindi, and computer classes. Parents are also picking 15-day online courses that would make kids learn the activities from the comfort of their homes. "Abacus is one of the top picks by parents among the courses we offer as it can help students in solving Maths problems. We also offer courses in AI, robotics, and drones. We have both theory and practical sessions to give students hands-on training. Last year, around 60 students enrolled for summer camps alone in May, and this year we expect the numbers to go up further," said A Saran, Founder, Aurora Academy, Madurai.
