The North East and East Zone Regional Abilympics 2025 concluded at Srimanta Kalakshetra, Guwahati, with Assam emerging as the frontrunner. The 2-day event that concluded on Aug 23 witnessed 13 Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) clinching medals โ three Gold, four Silver, and six Bronze โ across diverse vocational skill categories. This was the first time the Regional Abilympics were held in the North East, marking the final leg of Phase 2 of the Abilympics journey and setting the stage for the National Abilympics 2025 in Delhi this November.
Organized by the National Abilympic Association of India (NAAI) in collaboration with Sarthak Educational Trust and supported by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), TPCDT, and IndusInd Bank, the event featured competitions in Information & Communication Technology, Crafts, Hospitality, and Services. IHCL Area Director Jayanta Das attended the Valedictory Ceremony, lauding the participants for their determination and talent.
Gold medalists included Abhijit Dutta of Jorhat, Assam for Cake Decoration, Noor Alam Ansari of Tezpur, Assam for Cleaning Services, and Yumnam Naresh Singh of Manipur for Massage Services. Silver medalists were Raju Tamung of Guwahati, Assam; Binoy Subba of Bihar; Dheeraj Kumar of Bihar; and Shehnaaz Parvin of Guwahati, Assam. Bronze medalists included participants from Assam, Manipur, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar, reflecting a wide regional spread of vocational talent.
Dr. Jitender Aggarwal, Secretary-General of NAAI and Founder & CEO of Sarthak Educational Trust, described the event as a celebration of skill and inclusion, stating, โThe finale was not just about medalsโit was about unlocking futures. These winners are role models proving that skill has no disability. Our focus now is on the Nationals in Delhi, and building an India where 10 million PwDs are empowered and 2 lakh sustainable jobs are created by 2027.โ
Gold medalist Noor Alam Ansari from Tezpur expressed his excitement, saying, โThis is my first competition of this kind. Winning motivates me to do more and inspire others like me.โ Abhijit Dutta, who taught himself baking through online tutorials, said his medal proves that passion can open doors to opportunities. Yumnam Naresh Singh, who lost his vision to glaucoma, described massage as โan art for a visually impaired personโ and dedicated his achievement to his mother.
With the regional rounds now complete, select winners will advance to the National Abilympics 2025 in Delhi, where Indiaโs team for the 11th International Abilympics in Finland (2027) will be chosen. The event concluded with applause and inspiration, reinforcing the belief that disability is not inability but a different kind of strength.
Event Highlights
Organized by the National Abilympic Association of India (NAAI) in collaboration with Sarthak Educational Trust, and supported by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), TPCDT, and IndusInd Bank, the competition drew participants from Assam, Northeast, and Eastern India.
IHCL Area Director Jayanta Das graced the Valedictory Ceremony, motivating participants and applauding their achievements.
Medal Tally
- Gold Medalists
- Abhijit Dutta (Jorhat, Assam) โ Cake Decoration โ Hearing Impaired
- Noor Alam Ansari (Tezpur, Assam) โ Cleaning Services โ Locomotor Disability
- Yumnam Naresh Singh (Manipur) โ Massage Services โ Visually Impaired
- Silver Medalists
- Raju Tamung (Guwahati, Assam) โ Basket Making โ Locomotor Disability
- Binoy Subba (Bihar) โ Cleaning Services โ Hearing Impaired
- Dheeraj Kumar (Bihar) โ Massage Services โ Locomotor Disability
- Shehnaaz Parvin (Guwahati, Assam) โ Cake Decoration
- Bronze Medalists
Suraj Kumar Chetri (Assam), Abujum Arunkumar Meitei (Manipur), Savita (Uttar Pradesh), Silsila Das (Assam), Dheeraj Kumar (Bihar), Arijul Haque (Assam).
Leadership Speaks
Dr. Jitender Aggarwal, Secretary-General of NAAI and Founder & CEO of Sarthak Educational Trust, said:
โThe finale was not just about medalsโit was about unlocking futures. These winners are role models proving that skill has no disability. Our focus now is the Nationals in Delhi, and beyond that, building an India where 10 million PwDs are empowered and 2 lakh sustainable jobs are created by 2027.โ
Assamโs Rising Stars
Assam excelled with winners in Cake Decoration, Cleaning, Patisserie & Confectionery, and Engineering Design categories.
- Noor Alam Ansari, Gold Medalist in Cleaning Services, shared:
โI have never participated in such a competition before. Winning this award motivates me to do more and inspire others like me.โ
- Abhijit Dutta, Gold Medalist in Cake Decoration, added:
โI taught myself baking through YouTube tutorials. This medal proves that passion can create opportunities.โ
