The Tirunelveli District Level Sports Day for mentally disabled children conducted by the District Sports Authority of Tirunelveli was held this year on the 19th November, 2011, at the Anna Stadium, Palayamkottai. 243 Mentally challenged children from 17 special schools in the District participated in the sports day with great enthusiasm. Five children per school were permitted to participate in the sports events and three boys and two girls representing SCAD Anbu Illam, Chereanmahadevi, were taken to the Anna Stadium, to participate in different events

SCAD has encouraged and motivated the mentally challenged by giving them the needed coaching in sports activities, due to which they were able to win three prizes. Esakkimuthu, aged 11, took part in the Cricket ball throw and won the 1st prize. Pandi, aged 13, took part in the jump competition, in the 13 to 17 category, and won the 2nd prize. Jefferson, aged 15, took part in shot put and won the 2nd prize.

Mr. Nainar Nagendran, was the Chief Guest, and distributed the prizes and certificates. He said, “ Only when sports days are held exclusively for mentally challenged children can the benefits and assistance reach them 100%. I have helped several sections of people, but I’d very much like to involve my time and resource to such mentally challenged children.”

The children enjoyed the day very much. The Sports’ Coordinator, Mr. Mallikaraj, who had trained the students of Anbu Illam by giving them practice twice a week, and guiding them properly, said, “We were able to identify and tap the potentiality of our students when they competed with the students of the other schools in the District. This was very good exposure for the students and the students enjoyed themselves.”