PCI And CPSFI Sign MoU To Jointly Bid For 2029 World Abilitysport Games

New Delhi, 22 July 2026: The Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) and the Cerebral Palsy Sports Federation of India (CPSFI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly pursue India’s bid to host the 2029 World Abilitysport Games, in a move aimed at strengthening India’s role in the global Paralympic movement.

The MoU sets out a partnership between the two bodies to prepare and submit a bid for one of the world’s major multi-sport events for athletes with disabilities. The proposed Games are expected to draw more than 1,500 athletes, team officials, technical delegates, classifiers and support personnel from member nations worldwide.

Proposed event plan

The Games programme is expected to include Para Athletics, Para Swimming, Para Badminton, Para Fencing, CP Football, Para Table Tennis and Para Wheelchair Basketball (3-a-side). Chennai and Bhubaneshwar are under consideration as possible host cities, with talks to begin with the respective State Governments on infrastructure, accessibility, accommodation, transport, government support and overall readiness.

Hosting the event is expected to support India’s sporting profile and leave a legacy through better sporting infrastructure, improved accessibility, capacity building, volunteer development, technical expertise, sports tourism and higher participation in disability sport. The bid also aims to inspire future athletes with disabilities and underline India’s focus on inclusion through sport.

Statements from the federations

Mr. Devendra Jhajharia, President, Paralympic Committee of India, said the Paralympic movement in India has grown strongly over the past decade. He said hosting the 2029 World Abilitysport Games would let Indian athletes compete at the highest level at home and show India can deliver a world-class international Para multi-sport event.

Mr. Rajesh Tomar, President, Cerebral Palsy Sports Federation of India, said the MoU begins a journey to bring the World Abilitysport Games back to India after two decades. He said the bid is about a lasting legacy for Para sport, with goals linked to accessibility, technical expertise, infrastructure development and wider sport participation.

India last hosted the IWAS World Games in Bengaluru in 2009. The PCI said the new bid offers a chance to welcome the international Para sport community again, while the CPSFI said it will work with the PCI, the Government of India, State Governments, World Abilitysport and other key stakeholders on a strong bid.