Ahmedabad, Sep 2026 : Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah on Friday inaugurated the Archery Association of India’s ‘World Archery Para Series Amdavad 2026’ through video conferencing, with the international competition bringing together 108 athletes from 19 countries in Ahmedabad from September 5 to 9.
Addressing the opening ceremony, Shah said the competition would be a memorable occasion for participating athletes as well as the city of Ahmedabad. Archers from several countries, including Bhutan, the United Kingdom, China, Bangladesh, France, Germany, Indonesia and the United States, are participating in the prestigious series.
Welcoming the international athletes to India, Shah said the country’s civilisational ethos was rooted in the principle of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’, or the belief that the world is one family. He said Ahmedabad, Gujarat and India were poised to emerge as important hubs of the global sporting community in the coming years.
Shah highlighted the sports infrastructure being developed in Ahmedabad and said the facilities would be created according to international standards. These facilities, he added, would benefit Indian athletes as well as sportspersons from across the world.
The Union Minister said India was also working towards developing itself as a major centre for sports training and the manufacturing of sports infrastructure and equipment. He expressed confidence that the country would emerge as a global leader in sports engineering and sports medical science.
He further said India could become an important destination for the treatment and rehabilitation of sports-related injuries. According to Shah, coaching and training facilities at the sports centre would be developed in line with international standards, enabling it to serve as a major training hub for athletes from India and abroad.
Referring to Gujarat’s growing sporting profile, Shah said the state had hosted around 10 international sporting events during 2025 and 2026. These events, he said, had provided athletes from different countries with an opportunity to experience Ahmedabad, Gujarat and India.
Shah also pointed to Ahmedabad’s ambitious future sporting calendar. He said the 2030 Commonwealth Games would mark the centenary edition of the event and described it as a matter of great pride and joy that Ahmedabad would host the Games.
He also referred to Ahmedabad’s bid to host the 2036 Olympic Games and expressed confidence that the city would ultimately get the opportunity to stage the global sporting extravaganza.
Emphasising the importance of determination in achieving sporting success, Shah said a champion was not created merely through practice, coaching and sporting ability, but also through an athlete’s strong desire to win.
Describing the World Archery Para Series as a prestigious test of focus, determination and excellence, Shah said the competition would provide athletes with an opportunity to set new benchmarks in the sport.
He added that hosting the event would further showcase Ahmedabad’s potential as a destination for major international sporting competitions and underlined India’s efforts to build a comprehensive and world-class sporting ecosystem.
