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WHAT STUDENTS CAN LEARN FROM

PARALYMPICS?

The Paralympics, a periodic series of international being focused on goals.
multisport events involving athletes with a range These skills are vital- the
of disabilities. There are many ways to appreciate ability to stay motivated
this disability focussed version of the Olympics and and confident over a long
supposedly many different lessons to draw from period of time is critical.
them.
21st century skills that include 3. VIGOUR- It means
adaptability, communication, collaboration, empathy, having high levels of energy
integrity, learners’ mindset, problem solving can efforts and drive. Student
be learnt by our Gen Z and Gen Alpha through the should be informed that
remarkable success of Indian contingent at the Paris now doing well in the Neha Jain
Paralympic games current task will help them W/o SI (Min) Santosh Chand Kothari
The Paralympic don’t exist only to teach to develop important skills, VS Wing, Dte. Genl. CRPF
us lessons or uplifts our hearts. But there are valid improve performance in their other subjects and
and valuable lessons we can draw from them. Beyond make progress towards future plan.
the podium finishes, all athletes who participated

deserve to be celebrated because each one’s is a 4. OPTIMIST- It is measured by how someone
story of incredible resilience and sportsperson spirit. perceives their success or failures. Optimistic students
They have surmounted serious challenges to push are more motivated and coping more effectively with
the boundaries set by a society that continues to be academic transitions.
largely ableist by default.
Sheetal Devi- first and only female 5. CONTROL- Athletes talk about being process
international Para archery champion without upper focussed; they concentrate on what they can control,
limbs. She became the youngest person to compete in which usually means their strategies, routines and
women’s para-archery at 2024 summer Paralympics. performances.
Silver medallist, Suhas Lalinakere Students can take a similar approach by
Yathiraj, only Indian para-badminton player to win focusing their efforts on “controlling the controllables”.
back-to- back medals at Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 By learning from these remarkable athletes, students
Games, an IAS breaks stereotypes shows academic can develop a strong work ethic, resilience, and a
and sporty excellence achievable. He became the first growth mindset, applying the lesson to their own
Indian bureaucrat to win a professional International lives and pursuits. By focussing on what they need to
Badminton Championship. do and not on the potential consequences, they can
High jumper Mariyappan Thangavelu build confidence while reducing fear of failure.
became the first Indian to win medals at three
consecutive Paralympics overcoming all his odds,
raised by a single mother who worked as a labourer
and the list goes on shooter Avani Lekhara, javelin ace
Sumit Antil, high jumper Praveen Kumar, Club throw
medallist Dharambir and Pranav Soorma, Preethi Pal
and many more.
As they were preparing, they were not
just facing a physical test, but a mental one. Here is
what students can learn from them-

1. SELF REGULATION:- Probably they are less
anxious by nature and are better at handling their
nerves. Stress and anxiety can hinder concentration,
so it takes a lot of self-composure to deliver your
best performance when it matters the most. Mindsets
should be changed to see big events as opportunities
rather than threats.

2. MENTAL TOUGHNESS - They have high level
of motivation, being able to cope with setbacks and