Judo and Powerlifting Players Charge with High Spirit to Birmingham for IBSA World Games 2023

The anticipation for the upcoming International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA) World Games 2023, Birmingham is thriving with each passing day as Team India gears up to represent the country at the global stage.

The 2023 IBSA World Games, organized by the International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA), would witness over 1250 players and officials from over 70 countries.

A myriad of exciting sporting competitions such as powerlifting, judo, goalball, football, chess, tenpin bowling, shooting, showdown, archery, tennis and blind cricket will feature in the tournament.

In an interaction with the Judo and Powerlifting players going to Birmingham to compete on an international level, here are some inspiring stories revolving around their journey so far:

Renuka Narayan Salve with a 8th World Rank and 3rd Asian Rank, has been playing Judo since childhood, from her school days. Now she trains for around 5-7 hours, daily. She got admission to a school for the visually impaired and chose Judo for her empowerment and self-defense.

In 2019 participated in the 7th National Blind Judo Championship and associated with IBSA. She has won a Gold Medal in IBSA Judo small countries championship 2023 held at Finland, Bronze Medal in Commonwealth Games Judo Championship at Birmingham (U.K.) in 2022, Bronze Medal in Judo Grand Prix Championship and Gold Medal in National Blind Judo Championship. She is really thankful to Usha for the encouragement and support the brand has provided to upcoming players to play at a national as well as international arena.

Triptpal Singh started Powerlifting during school days in class X among friends and has been actively lifting since 2004. He connected with IBSA in National Games at Ludhiana in 2008 where he participated on the behalf of Punjab State Blind Federation. Additionally, he also participated in Shot put and Discus Throw Championships organized by Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) from 2007 to 2013.

He has won numerous tournaments, including Gold Medals in all Shot put and Discus Throw Championships, a Silver Medal organized by Inter University Championship in 2010, Two Bronze Medals in World Powerlifting Championship at Seoul in 2015, Bronze Medal in World Powerlifting Championship at Egypt in 2019, and Maharaja Ranjeet Singh Highest award in sports by Punjab State in 2019.

He feels immense gratitude towards Usha for always taking charge in sponsoring such tournaments, providing a platform for talent to flourish. He has moved up from facing financial instability for purchasing equipment to making a name for himself. His two cents to the youth of India is to believe in yourself and work hard for yourself and your country.

IBSA is a perfect example of inspiring stories on inclusivity and diversity that have been in the making for a while now to enable and empower athletes showcasing India's sporting talent to the world. Companies like Usha International have been championing and supporting their cause for many years now and for the 2023 IBSA World Games, Usha is the title sponsor of the Judo and Powerlifting teams.

Speaking on the partnership, Ms Komal Mehra, Head - Sports Initiatives and Associations, Usha International, said, "Partnering with IBSA has been among the most fulfilling collaborations for us. Inclusivity and diversity is part of Usha's ethos as is our vision 'Play' that encourages an active and healthy lifestyle. And it's the zeal and determination of the athletes and their remarkable sportsmanship and unwavering spirit that has brought them till here. To me each of them is an inspiration and a winner in life."

This partnership is another effort by Usha in their endeavour to make sports inclusive, and accessible. Aligned to Usha's 'Play' ethos, the brand supports the inculcation of an active and healthy living amongst everyone and is deeply invested in reviving and bringing the traditional indigenous regional sports of India out of the shadows.

Some of the sporting initiatives across the country Usha supports includes its affiliation with the Mumbai Indians team for the IPL, Ultimate Flying Disc, Golf, and indigenous Indian regional sports such as Kalari, Mallakhamb, Siat Khnam, Thang-Ta, and Saz-Loung, Satoliya (popularly known as pithu), Yoga, cricket for the specially-abled, sports for visually challenged (athletics, kabaddi, judo, and powerlifting), as well as football and Tug of war.