On 7 August 2026, around 300 students from schools in Delhi came together at Thyagaraj Sports Complex for the flagship launch of Para Élan - Sab Ka Maidan, an Indo-French initiative that brings young people closer to para-sports through education, sport and real-life experiences.The Junior Age was part of this special event, conducting a creative workshop for students. Through creative writing, an art competition, a quiz and interactive interviews with para-athletes, students explored para-sports from different perspectives, tested their knowledge, expressed their ideas and asked athletes about their sporting journeys. M3M Foundation was also part of the wider partnership behind the initiative.
What is Para Élan?
Para Élan is a three-year Indo-French initiative led by the French Institute in India and the Paralympic Committee of India, with the Embassy of France in India as part of the wider partnership. Dr Payal Kanodia, Chairperson, Paralympic Committee of India and Chairperson and Trustee, M3M Foundation, was also part of the initiative. Representatives from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and the Department of Education, Government of NCT of Delhi, attended the event.Para Élan was launched in April 2026 through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by Gregor Trumel, Country Director, French Institute in India, and Satya Parkash Sangwan, Vice-President, Paralympic Committee of India, in the presence of H.E. Thierry Mathou, Ambassador of France to India. The initiative builds on the legacy of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games and the 2025 World Para Athletics Championships in New Delhi. It brings together partners from sport, education and social impact.
Aim
Para Élan aims to reach more than 10,000 students across India over three years by combining French-language learning through the French Institute in India’s ‘French for All, French for a Better Future’ programme with para-sports education and global citizenship. Through this integrated approach, the initiative aims to help young people explore and understand values such as inclusion, resilience, equality, diversity and excellence. It also highlights the connections between India and France, using para-sports as a way to encourage learning, interaction and greater awareness of inclusion.
The Junior Age took students from experience to expression
The Junior Age designed four spaces where students could think, create and engage with ideas beyond a single event. Each activity gave students a different way to join the conversation. Some chose words, some expressed themselves through art, some tested their knowledge, while others stepped up to ask questions and interact with athletes.
Participating schools
The flagship event brought together around 300 students from Grades 7 to 9 representing 10 government and private schools across Delhi.
1) CM Shri School, INA
2) CM Shri School, Shalimar Bagh
3) CM Shri School, Lajpat Nagar
4) CM Shri School, Surajmal Vihar
5) CM Shri School, Dwarka Sector 5
6) CM Shri School, Dwarka Sector 10
7) Modern School, Barakhamba Road
8) Modern School, Vasant Vihar
9) Tagore International School
10) The Mother's International School
Glimpses from the day
Art Competition
The art competition gave students a chance to channel their creativity into the spirit of para-sports through their own designs. Rather than following one fixed idea, students were encouraged to imagine what sport, celebration and inclusion could look like through their own eyes.Students chose from three themes:
1) Design a Paralympic mascot:
Students imagined a mascot that could represent the energy, courage and spirit of the Paralympic Games.
2) Design a Paralympic medal for India and France:
Students created their own medal designs inspired by sport, the India-France connection and the values of Para Élan.
3) Design your dream sports jersey:
Students designed a jersey they would love to wear, using their own ideas for patterns, symbols, colours and sporting identity.
Creative writing competition
The creative-writing competition asked students to look beyond the scoreboard and think about the people, dreams and determination behind every sporting achievement.
Students chose from three topics:
1) Different Abilities, Same Dreams:
This topic invited students to think about how people may have different abilities but can still share the same hopes, ambitions and dreams.
2) A Champion Is Someone Who Never Gives Up:
Students explored what being a champion really means. Is it only about winning, or is it also about continuing when things become difficult?
3) A Medal Is Not Made of Gold Alone:
This topic encouraged students to look beyond the medal itself and think about the training, setbacks, courage, support and determination that can lie behind an achievement.
Together, the topics connected directly with the message of Para Élan: ability may look different, but dreams, effort and determination belong to everyone.
Quiz challenge
Students took part in a quick and engaging quiz across a variety of subjects. The questions moved beyond simple sports trivia, covering sports and para-sports, the history and evolution of the Paralympic Games, notable athletes, current affairs, general knowledge, and important facts about India and the wider world of sport.
Interactive interviews with the para-athletes
For The Junior Age, one of the most important parts of the day was giving students the opportunity to interview para-athletes themselves. Instead of simply reading about para-athletes or watching them compete, students got to ask questions directly and hear about their journeys, challenges, training and achievements.
Sharad Kumar - Para high jump
(T42/T63 categories), Paris 2024 Paralympic silver medallist and Tokyo 2020 bronze medallist
Interviewed by students from CM Shri School, Shalimar Bagh and The Mother's International School
Manihash - Para-athlete
Interviewed by students from CM Shri School, Dwarka Sector 5 and Modern School, Barakhamba Road
Keshav - Para-athlete
Interviewed by students from Modern School, Vasant Vihar and CM Shri School, Surajmal Vihar
Manjeet - Para-athlete
Interviewed by students from CM Shri School, CM Shri School, INA
Md. Shams Alam - Para open-water swimmer and world record holder
Interviewed by students from CM Shri School, Shalimar Bagh and The Mother's International School
Raj Kumari - Para powerlifting and Asian Para Games 2022 bronze medallist
Interviewed by students from CM Shri School, Dwarka Sector 5 and Modern School, Barakhamba Road
Deepanshu Singh - Para-athlete
Interviewed by students from CM Shri School, Surajmal Vihar and Modern School, Vasant Vihar
Arun Kumar - Para-athlete
Interviewed by students from Modern School, Vasant Vihar and The Mother's International School
Each athlete shared their journey, the challenges they face, the demands of training, what competition feels like and why sport matters to them. Several other accomplished para-athletes also attended the event, including Uday Pratap Singh, Piyush Gupta, Chirag, Manoj, Yogesh Soni, Wasim, Gayatri and Kumari Poonam.
