MIRPUR (Kashmir English): Five special hearing-impaired children from Azad Kashmir have qualified for participation in the National Special Olympics commencing in Islamabad from May 14 (today).
The Special children, students of Kashmir Institute of Special Education, who stand deprived of the gift of hearing and speech, will participate in the scheduled 4-day Special events held in Islamabad from May 14th to 17th.
Director KIAS Dr. Amjad Ansari said this while visiting the local press club with the squad of the nominees before leaving for Islamabad.
Dr Ansari said that five talented children of KIAS have been selected to participate in the National Special Olympics contests being held in Islamabad.
Among those selected include Faizan, for participating in the 200-metre race and long jump; Shiraz relay 100-meter race, and long jump; Iman Basharat to participate in powerlifting; Mubeen to participate in the 200-metre race; and Rehan to jump into the cycling competitions.
Dr. Amjad Ansari said that due to the lack of local facilities, these special children have been trained in Kharian, Punjab. About 4,000 athletes from all four provinces, Gilgit-Baltistan, AJK and Islamabad will participate in these Olympic competitions.
Honour for Kashmir
The participation of these hearing-impaired children is an honour not only for Mirpur but also for the entire Azad Jammu Kashmir, he said.
Dr. Ansari said that special children have immense potential, but due to lack of facilities in Mirpur AJK, they are not getting proper training there.
“We are trying to develop the capabilities of these children on self-help basis without relying on the state government resources before that. Our children have already achieved great success in many identical Special Olympic competitions both at home and abroad in the past,” the Director concluded.
