DUSHANBE (TCA) — The Branch of the German CARITAS Association in Tajikistan jointly with the Local Government Authority of Ayni district and its partner Public Organizations “ASTI” and “DARO” on the eve of the Day of Persons with Disabilities and Elderly People which is marked on July 8 every year in Tajikistan, organized a friendly wheelchair basketball match between wheelchair basketball teams of Dushanbe city and Sughd region that was attended by the representatives from government, non-government and international organizations, and residents of Ayni district, particularly disabled children and their family members.
Giving a welcome speech, Gulsara Zokirzoda, Deputy Chairperson of Ayni district said that the improvement of well-being of Persons with Disabilities and Elderly People is always at the center of the Tajik President’s and Government’s attention and the Local Government Authority of Ayni district is always prepared for cooperation with CARITAS Germany to implement activities in this direction.
Zarinamo Mukhtorova, acting Country Representative of CARITAS Germany in Tajikistan noted that the aim of the match is not winning and losing but promoting sports among people with disabilities in Ayni district and their involvement in different kinds of sports. She said, “the current event witnesses again that people with disabilities along with people without disabilities are able to do every type of work and may enhance their capacities to increase their nation’s and country’s reputation in all fields, especially the field of sports.”
Abdurauf Olimov, Chairman of Dushanbe Disability Sport Federation, Akmal Qodirov, 12-time Asian and one-time world arm wrestling champion among people with disabilities, international master of sport and Ghayrat Tukhtasunov, Head of Dushanbe Wheelchair Basketball Club made speeches on capabilities of disabled people for different kinds of sports, calling on people with disabilities in Ayni district not to be disappointed and engage in some kind of sports, because sport is very essential for formation of healthy lifestyle. Akmal Qodirov showed the basic rules of arm wrestling, and meanwhile, presented the arm wrestling table as a gift to disabled people of Ayni district.
Following a musical part, the wheelchair basketball match between the teams of Dushanbe city and Sughd region started as per the international rules, consisting of four periods of 10 minutes. The basketball players of both teams demonstrated high professional skills and finally, the match ended 49-23 in favor of Dushanbe team. Both teams were awarded with certificates of appreciation.
At the end of this sport event, the coaches of both teams demonstrated some basic exercises of wheelchair basketball with direct participation of teen-agers of Ayni district in order to develop this kind of sport among people with disabilities of Ayni district.
This sport event was held within the framework of the European Union and CARITAS Germany funded Project on supporting civil society in applying community based rehabilitation for people with disabilities in Ayni district. This project is one of many CARITAS Germany’s projects in Tajikistan aimed at supporting people with disabilities.
