US, India Wheelchair Basketball Exchange Program to kick-off at Kumaraguru Institutions tomorrow
- by asdudiil
- Jul 29,2025
The U.S. Department of State, through its Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Sports Diplomacy Division, is all set to conduct "Wheelchair Basketball India Exchange Program" - a two-week initiative designed to foster sports skills, promote student success, enhance understanding of sport and disability, and build cross-cultural unity between the United States and India.
The program, taking place from July 28 to August 10, 2025, is being hosted in Coimbatore and Chennai.
A significant part of the program, particularly the intensive training and exchange in Coimbatore, is scheduled from July 30 to August 3, 2025, and will be hosted at the Kumaraguru Institutions Campus in Coimbatore.
This impactful exchange is administered by FHI 360 and PH International, with key partnerships from the University of Alabama Adapted Athletics, and India's Sittruli Foundation and Kumaraguru Institution. The US Embassy in India is also a key collaborator.
This collaboration aims to not only enhance the skills and international exposure of Indian wheelchair basketball athletes but also to support the broader growth of adaptive sports across the nation.
The delegation from the United States comprises 20 delegates, including 13 collegiate wheelchair basketball athletes and students from the University of Alabama, as well as coaches from esteemed institutions including the University of Arizona, University of Missouri, University of Illinois, and CUNY.
These participants will engage in a dynamic itinerary that includes intensive adaptive sports training, cultural immersion experiences, and community engagement programs. Joining them for the exchange and training sessions will be 15 Indian wheelchair basketball players.
Program Highlights Include Adaptive Sports Training; Cultural Immersion, under which significant cultural sites such as the Sri Perur Patteeswarar Temple, Isha Yoga Centre, DakshinaChitra Heritage Museum, and Mamallapuram (a UNESCO World Heritage site) will be visited, offering a deep dive into South Indian culture and spirituality; Disability Advocacy and Awareness; Community Engagement; Institutional Visits; Exposure to Rehabilitation.
