Army Para Games showcase exceptional talents of soldiers
December 28, 2019Over 700 differently able soldiers representing 11 regiments of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) will compete for honours at the 22nd Army Para Games 2019 which got off the ground on Friday (27) at the Sugathadasa Stadium in Colombo.
According to Army media, the army athletes will compete in a range of events including archery, badminton, cycling, shooting, table tennis, power lifting, wheelchair marathon, tennis, beach volleyball, rowing, swimming, and also track and field events during three-day annual sports fiesta.
Army Commander Lt. Gen. Shavendra Silva, who was the Chief Guest, commenced the event with the formal declaration of the opening which was followed by the lightning of the Olympic torch.
The Para Games is being sponsored by Dialog Axiata PLC.
Army Para Sports Committee Chairman and Deputy Chief of Staff Army, Maj. Gen. Nirmal Dharmarathne, senior military officers and a large number of soldiers were also present at the occasion.
The ‘Army Disabled Sports Meet’, as it was known earlier commenced in 1991, and was later renamed as the ‘Sri Lanka Army Para Games’ in 2010.
The games provide a platform for differently-able army soldiers to showcase their talents and innate sporting abilities and further strengthen their mental stability and sports skills, irrespective of their disabilities.
A colourful closing ceremony of the 22nd Army Para Games will be concluded tomorrow (29) in a grand awarding ceremony, where athletes will receive honours on the final day.
