Physically Challenged Kids Blaze the Go-Karts for the 7th Hakone Championship at Powai

Hakone Go-Karting created a few more young champions at the 7th Hakone Championship for Physically Challenged Children that ended in close finish on 6th March 2006. This unique event provided a rare opportunity to differently-abled children for competing in difficult sports such as Go-Karting and Rock-Climbing. In fact, Hakone is the only one to organize such a Championship for the 7th year in a row.

Over 160 physically challenged children, both boys and girls, between the age group of 12 to 17 years participated in this spectacular event. Entries were received from NGOs such as Sanskardham Vidyalaya for Hearing Impaired, KDN Shruti School for the Deaf, Koshish School for the Deaf, Disha Karnabadhir Vidyalaya, Utkarsh Mandal Mookdhwani Vidyala, Save The Children School, Pragati Vidyalaya For The Deaf, Vikas Vidyalaya For The Hearing Handicapped, and individual participants. These children were earlier given free training for four days during which they were short-listed for the finals at the Hakone Go Karting Sports Centre, Hiranandani Gardens - Powai, Mumbai. Many of these children experienced karting for the first time during the practice sessions and were truly delighted.

These children competed on Hakone's professional championship track - the longest and one of the best international karting tracks in the country. Celebrities from the glamour world such as Ms. Bhumika Chawla, Ms. Rakhi Sawant, Mr. Varun Badola and Ms. Mauli Ganguly were present at the Karting tracks to cheer the children. The Reigning National Formula Champion - Rayomand Banajee and Reigning National Karting Champion- Mr. Ameya Walawalkar blazed the tracks for a special demo for the championship and encouraged the physically challenged geniuses to blaze the tracks and conquer the rock heights at Hakone Mumbai. Mr. Surendra and Mrs. Priti Hiranandani, who wholeheartedly lead the cause of the championship each year, were present at the event.

On the success of the championships, Mr. Surendra Hiranandani, Managing Director, Hiranandani Group and pioneer of go-karting in India, comments, “Each year the championship gets better and better in terms of both enthusiasm and participation from the talented physically challenged kids. We will not be surprised if these children win at the national circuits next.”

More about the Championship:

The Go-Karting Championships at Hiranandani Gardens for the Physically Challenged is aimed at bringing out their spirit of adventure. This annual event is driven by their very enthusiasm and determination, visible at the past championships.

The Hakone championships for Physically Challenged Children began in the year 2001. Since then, there has been no looking back, as the flood of entries keeps increasing every year, making it one of the most awaited annual events. Numerous celebrities have demonstrated their support for this noble cause with their presence at these championships over the years, some of them being Milind Soman, Arjun Rampal, Aftab Shivdasani,

Sanjay Suri, Aman Verma, Aryan Vaid, Zayed Khan, Ruby Bhatia, Rohit Roy, Raageshwari, Sharad Kapoor, Juhi Babbar, Rajeev Khandelwal, Varun Badola, Neeraj of Bombay Vikings, National Karting Champ Ameya Walavalkar and Manini De.

From the past two years, a Rock-Climbing Championship at the Hakone Rock Wall, Powai has also been added along with the go-karting competition to provide an additional thrill of adventure to the physically challenged children. In both Go-Karting and Rock Climbing, there are separate championships for boys and girls.

Says Ms. Priti Hiranandani, Director, Hiranandani Group, “Children with physical disabilities are often excluded from participation in most sports that require extensive physical co-ordination. Participation in difficult sports such as go-karting and rock-climbing can provide a major fillip to the unrecognized potential of these children. Our aim is to evoke the spirit of challenge in handicapped children and to create awareness about their cause.”

This Championship for Physically Challenged Children is a unique initiative of Hiranandani Group. The event is organized by Creative Perceptions Events. The championship is the brainchild of Mr. Surendra Hiranandani, MD. Hiranandani Group, who is the pioneer of Go-Karting in India. He says, “Physical Disability among Children can be seen as both a problem and a challenge. Projecting disability as a challenge helps children accept it as something that does not limit their other abilities. The enthusiasm with which these children participate each year encourages us to believe that nothing is impossible. Their energetic participation motivates us to further our own spirit of adventure, taking these children as an example.”
About Hakone:

Hakone Go-Karting was the first karting track in the country, and also the first to be certified by the National Karting Association of UK on international parameters of safety and infrastructure. Hakone has three different tracks for different categories of karters - cadet track (for young budding karters), professional track (for senior karters) and championship track that is the longest karting track in the country. Covering about two acres on hilly terrain in Powai, Hakone provides the unique thrill of karting on a hillock in the breathtaking ambience of Hiranandani Gardens giving Mumbaikars a truly exciting motor-sport. Besides Karting, Hakone also has artificial Rock-climbing, Game center, a Mini Golf course, Trampoline, Bungee and Bumper cars. It is

also the only go-karting track to successfully hold a special annual championship for physically challenged children.
About Hiranandani Group:

Hiranandani Group has been synonymous with creating better communities. The group has earned a tremendous reputation not only for construction but also in the fields of education, sports, entertainment, hospitality, IT, healthcare, and environmental conservation, all with a human touch and a concern for communities. The dynamic leadership of the Hiranandani brothers - Mr. Niranjan Hiranandani and Mr. Surendra Hiranandani has been taking the group to newer heights. The Championships for Physically Challenged Children is a unique initiative of the Hiranandani Group.