World's first high-altitude para sports centre to be established in Leh

A landmark initiative for para-sports in India, the world’s first high-altitude para sports centre would be established in Leh, Ladakh, aimed at training and nurturing para-athletes for international competitions, including the 2028 Paralympics. The centre would offer world-class, inclusive training for para-athletes from India and around the world, leveraging the unique benefits of high-altitude training to enhance athletic performance, resilience and endurance.

An MoU for this project was signed between the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Leh, and the Aditya Mehta Foundation (AMF), a key advocate for para-sports in the country. Advocate Tashi Gyalson, Chief Executive Councillor of LAHDC, expressed pride in Leh hosting the centre, highlighting the significant achievements of Indian para-athletes, including 29 medals at the 2024 Paris Paralympics. He believes the centre would help harness regional talent and contribute to India's goal of becoming a top contender in future Paralympic Games.

Until the centre’s completion, AMF will begin training Children with Special Needs (CwSN) from the Leh-Ladakh region at AMF’s Infinity Parasports Academy in Hyderabad, Asia’s first para-sports academy and rehab centre. Fifteen potential athletes from Ladakh will be selected for this training, with screenings conducted at the sub-divisional level to ensure wide participation.

Aditya Mehta, Founder of AMF, emphasized the transformative potential of the centre, which will create a hub for para-athletes and strengthen India’s global standing in para-sports. The project’s development will be overseen by a dedicated committee, and land identification for the facility is underway.

This initiative underscores the commitment of LAHDC and AMF to breaking barriers for para-athletes and fostering an environment of excellence in para-sports across India.