ASSIST successfully conducted basketball tournament for differently abled students

ASSIST collaborated with Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority (GNIDA) to conduct a 3X3 Basketball Tournament in the Greater Noida Carnival 2020 on January 25, 2020. To promote inclusiveness through sports, a few exhibition matches of Inclusive Zone Basketball were also played by the ASSIST Team.

This was the first instance when ASSIST Collaborated with GNIDA to organize a 3 X 3 basketball Tournament for school students, where 22 teams participated. Going further, ASSIST is also planning to host India’s first Inclusive Basketball League in the month of April.

The final match of tournament in boys’ category was played between DPS NTPC and St.Joseph School wherein DPS NTPC emerged as a winner with final score line of 14-12. In the girls’ category, Jaypee Public school defeated DPS NTPC with final scores of 6-1. The event was graced by Shri Dhirendra Singh, MLA, Jewar who was also the chief guest.

The tournament was interspersed with Inclusive Zone Basketball matches, where students with differing physical and mental ability played together at Shaheed Vijay Singh Pathik Sports complex.

For the unique initiative of spreading unity in diversity through inclusive sports, GNIDA also honoured Kartikeya Goel and Parth Sarthi, founder and co-founder of ASSIST respectively.

“Sensitising the general public on the need for ‘zero discrimination’, ASSIST also encouraged the wheelchair- bound students to participate. Differently abled students who are afflicted with cerebral palsy, autism or are deaf were seen playing alongside other students. Sports is one such activity that unites India and this is a special gesture shown by all the participants through basketball, we wish to unite all strata of Indian society,” said Kartikeya Goel, Founder, ASSIST.

ASSIST offers free basketball training for marginalised students to create and develop the link between leadership, gender equity, character, teamwork, and communication with academic success and creating hope in their classrooms, communities and families.

ASSIST - an initiative founded by a school student, Kartikeya and ably assisted by another student Parth Sarthi, promotes sports as a medium to build an inclusive society that unites people, rather than divide them into artificially defined groups.

ASSIST started its journey around three years ago from Kartikeya Goel’s home. He decided to teach basketball to five less-privileged children growing up in his neighbourhood. Over a span of several months, Kartikeya was amazed to see how playing basketball on a regular basis improved the physical and mental development of these children. They grew sharper in their movements and reading of the game. Inspired by the positive impact of playing basketball on children, he then convinced his friend Parth to join him. ASSIST provides a platform to underprivileged and special children with basketball training, while inculcating in them life skills that the game teaches. Ultimately, the aim is to enable these children to learn life skills such as discipline, teamwork, leadership and perseverance. Currently, ASSIST runs three School Chapters - School of Hope: Tamanna Foundation, Tagore International School – East of Kailash (EOK), and Cornerstone Foundation – Greater Noida.