Sh. Rajeev Verma, IAS, Chief Secretary, UT Chandigarh, along with his wife Mrs. Rachna Verma, attended the closing ceremony of the National Table Tennis Championship, organised by Special Olympics Bharat (SOB), Chandigarh, at the Table Tennis Hall, Sector 23, Chandigarh. As the Chief Guest, Sh. Rajeev Verma felicitated the winners and lauded their dedication, determination, and exceptional performances.
He congratulated all the participants and remarked that “with sheer willpower, anything is achievable.” He also extended his best wishes to the athletes for their upcoming participation in the international Special Olympic Games.
The championship was hosted by Special Olympics Bharat, Chandigarh, from 14th to 18th July 2025, and featured thrilling rallies, enthusiastic cheers, and inspiring moments of inclusion and sportsmanship. The event brought together athletes with intellectual disabilities from over 20 states, competing in Sub-Junior, Junior, and Senior categories, demonstrating remarkable spirit, discipline, and skill. Participating states included Chandigarh, Punjab, Gujarat, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Jammu & Kashmir, Maharashtra, Puducherry, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and others.
Present during the occasion were Ms. Prerna Puri, IAS, Secretary Sports, Chandigarh; Mr. Sorabh Kumar Arora, PCS, Director Sports, Chandigarh; Mr. Rajiv Tewari, Director Public Relations Chandigarh; Dr. Mahinder Singh, Joint Director Sports, Chandigarh; Ms. Dipreet Sekhon, President, Special Olympics Bharat, Chandigarh; Ms. Sheetal Negi, Area Director, Special Olympics Bharat, Chandigarh; Sh. C. Rajasekhar , Board Member, Special Olympics Bharat & National Sports Expert.
In addition, the event saw the presence of SOB Chandigarh Board Members, Principals/Heads of Institutions, Coaches, and several volunteers and well-wishers, whose collective support made the championship a grand success.