Organised by the National Abilympic Association of India (NAAI) and Sarthak Educational Trust, with support from the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) GoI, TPCDT, and IndusInd Bank, the event is part of India’s ongoing campaign toward the 11th International Abilympics competitions scheduled in Finland 2027. Chief Guest for the event will be Shri Ramdas Athawale Minister of State, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India.
The event marks the second leg of Phase 2 in the ongoing Abilympics Skill Competitions & Conferences 2025 — following the successful South Zone edition in Chennai — and also commemorates 17 years of Sarthak’s mission to empower Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) through skill development, employment, and inclusion.
Participants from different states — Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Goa — will compete in 15 vocational skill categories, covering domains like Crafts, ICT, Hospitality, and Services. Skills featured include Photography (Studio), Character Design, English Desktop Publishing, Hand Knitting, Crochet, Basket Making, Hairdressing, Massage, Fashion Design, Cake Decoration, Patisserie & Confectionery, Engineering Design, and Cleaning Services. All competitions are aligned with international standards set by the Finland Abilympics, building India’s readiness for Abilympics Finland 2027.
Beyond competitions, the event will feature sectoral panel discussions with policymakers, CSR leaders, inclusive employers, media voices, and technology innovators. These dialogues will focus on assistive tech, inclusive hiring, media representation, and scalable skilling models for PwDs. Distinguished guests at the event include; Shri Anil Diggikar, Additional Chief Secretary, Persons with Disabilities Welfare Department, Government of Maharashtra Shri Nitin Patil, Commissioner–Skill Development, Employment, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation, Government of Maharashtra; Dr. Vijay Kalantari, Chairman, World trade Center, Mumbai and other regional and national changemakers.
“This is more than a competition. It’s a movement to unlock economic dignity, confidence, and careers for millions of PwDs across India,” said Dr. Jitender Aggarwal, Secretary-General NAAI and Founder & CEO of Sarthak Educational Trust. “At Sarthak, we are not just building skills—we are building futures. Our mission to empower 10 million PwDs and facilitate over 2 lakh sustainable job placements by 2027 is what drives our every effort.”
The initiative aligns closely with the National Action Plan for Skill Development of Persons with Disabilities (NAP-SDP) and is backed by Sarthak’s GyanSarathi—India’s first accessible e-learning platform tailored for PwDs, promoting flexible, scalable, and inclusive skill delivery.
The momentum is real. In 2023, India participated in the International Abilympics in Metz, France, sending 13 candidates across 12 skill categories and securing 7 medals (1 Gold, 2 Silver, 3 Bronze, and 1 Medal of Excellence). Stories like Chetan Pashilkar (Gold medallist in Painting & Waste Reuse) and P. Sai Krishnan (Photography medallist) are proof that structured training and visibility can transform lives.
The Mumbai edition will not only drive India’s preparation for Finland 2027, but also serve as a platform to celebrate 17 years of Sarthak Educational Trust, spotlighting the journeys of PwDs who’ve overcome barriers and found mainstream inclusion. From live skill competitions and inclusive dialogues to networking with employers and changemakers, the West Zone Abilympics promises to be a turning point in India’s inclusion movement.
For more information and registration: www.abilympicsindia.org
