National Para Swimming Championships begin racing in Bhopal today

The XXVI National Para Swimming Championships begin racing in Bhopal on Friday 13 November and run until Sunday 15 November. Organised by the Paralympic Committee of India with the Para Swimming Federation of India, the championships will be held at the Prakash Swimming Pool in T.T. Nagar, hosted by the Para Sports Association of Madhya Pradesh. Around 405 swimmers will compete across 260 races, with Bhopal hosting the championships for the first time. The swimmers come from 26 states and the Services, with 106 women and 299 men among the 405 entries. The races span 14 categories, from S1 to S10 for physically impaired swimmers, S11 to S13 for visually impaired swimmers, and S14 for intellectually impaired swimmers.

Thursday was medical classification for new swimmers, with the opening ceremony held today ahead of the racing. The event follows India's record 114-medal campaign at the Asian Para Games in Aichi-Nagoya last month, where para swimming contributed 11 medals. The championships were inaugurated on Friday by Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav. The event is recognised by the World Para Swimming Committee, and the overall contingent numbers around 700 people, including 200 escorts and 100 managers and technical officials. Of India's 11 para swimming medals at the Asian Para Games, three were silver and eight were bronze. The championships are being held in collaboration with the state government's Directorate of Sports and Youth Welfare and MP Tourism.