08 March, 2024 : The spirit of determination and resilience took center stage as India’s Energy Maharatna ONGC hosted the opening ceremony of the 5th ONGC Para Games at Thyagaraj Stadium, New Delhi today, scheduled from 8-10 March.
The event was graced by the presence of Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas, Minister of Housing & Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri, who inaugurated the Games, Pankaj Jain, Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas (MoPNG), Arun Kumar Singh, Chairman & CEO, ONGC and senior CPSEs officials.
Congratulating ONGC on the occasion, Shri Puri remarked, “Public sector enterprises, besides excelling operationally, are driving impactful social initiatives. This dedication is evident in their efforts to support Paralympic aspirations of the nation and harnessing the potential of these athletes. The ONGC Para Games is a testament to the spirit of the participating athletes. Despite facing challenges, you have shown grit and determination and have not only overcome the obstacles, but have contributed to defining a more humane society.”
Shri Pankaj Jain, Secretary, MoPNG, expressed admiration for the participating athletes at the ONGC Para Games, emphasizing,”The power of the mind over the power of the human body is the essence of this Games and that is all that you signify.”
The 5th ONGC Para Games, featuring a total of 371 athletes, will witness active participating from 249 ONGCians across a range of sporting disciplines. Athletes from various oil and gas public enterprises, including ONGC, IOCL, BPCL, HPCL, EIL, OIL, and GAIL, will compete across disciplines such as athletics, badminton, table tennis, and wheelchair racing.
Distinguished athletes including Manasi Joshi, Arjuna Awardee and para-badminton star, Manoj Sarkar, Arjuna Awardee and Para Olympian Bronze medalist, and ONGCian Captain SK Sangwan are set to participate in the event. Captain Sangwan, honored with the National Award by the President of India, notably led the first platoon deployed during the Kargil War in the Batalik sector. In 2017, he made history as the first war veteran with an artificial limb to lead the ONGC Team for an expedition to Mount Everest. This monumental achievement marked the first independent corporate team to select, train, and successfully summit Everest within a remarkably short period of 15 months.
The ONGC Para Games, conceptualized to mainstream and foster inclusivity for its specially- abled employees in 2017 stands out as a unique corporate commitment underscoring ONGC’s visionary approach to energizing the human spirit through sportsmanship. Over the years, the Games have witnessed remarkable growth in both participation and diversity, with numerous para-athletes from the event going on to bring pride to India in the Paralympics.
