Bhubaneswar, Feb. 8: They ran like any other mainstream athlete and their finishing was at par with professional footballer and their spirit was incomparable.

The two-day sports meet for differently-abled students that concluded today provided a sense of achievement and a platform to explore their sporting skills.

The students competed in events such as races for those on the crutches, basketball, volleyball, shot put, javelin throw, cricket, football, sack race, lemon race, and wheelchair race as well as carrom, musical chair, painting, skipping, target shooting and quiz competition.

Children and teenagers, belonging to various special schools of the city, took part in the meet that was organised by a group of youngsters under the banner We For You on the Unit-I Government High School ground.

The sports meet aimed at building a more inclusive and generous society. "Recently the Indian blind cricket team won the World Cup but very few people around us knew about it. They are equally capable as we are and organising such events would enhance their confidence," said Abhaya Mohanta, a volunteer at the event.

Speaking about the research work behind the event, Mohanta said: "We had built a team of five members who did a lot of fieldwork to understand the types of sports suitable for various forms of disability. They met a number of activists in the field and a number of doctors for suggestions."

While students with psychological challenges battled it out in shot put and javelinthrow, the ones with auditory impairment showed their mettle in skipping and basketball. The students also put their imaginations into canvas at the painting contest.

One of the highlights of the meet was a cricket match organised for the visually challenged students where both the teams put up a great show amid shrieks and shouts from their teammates and the spectators.

Many students from various educational institutions of the city volunteered for the event. "It is not often that we get an opportunity to do something for the differently-abled people, especially the children. Seeing them smiling is very fulfilling," said Sai Trinath, a student of IIT, Bhubaneswar.

For the participants, the event was encouraging. "Although I could not grab a prize, I am really happy that I took part in the meet. It boosted my self-reliance," said Binodini Samal, a visually challenged girl.