“WDDA appoints Indian para-athlete and sports administrator as Asian Coordinator, opening new avenues for international cooperation and inclusive sports”
(By Prof. S. S. Dogra)
In a significant milestone for disability sports in India, Mahendra Pratap Singh, an international para-athlete, sports administrator and social worker from Kanpur, has been appointed Coordinator for Asia by the World Disability Darts Association (WDDA), Scotland. The appointment recognises his contribution to promoting disability darts in India and entrusts him with a wider responsibility to develop the sport across the Asian continent.
The announcement was made by Ted McMillan, Founder President of the WDDA, Scotland, who expressed confidence in Singh’s experience, commitment and ability to expand the sport internationally. According to McMillan, Singh will coordinate the association’s activities across Asia and maintain regular communication with the WDDA board and its leadership.
The appointment marks an important step in Singh’s journey from a pioneering para-athlete in India to an international sports administrator. More importantly, it offers fresh possibilities for athletes with disabilities seeking greater recognition, competitive opportunities and access to international sporting platforms.
“A pioneer in Indian para darts”
Recognised as India’s first para-darts player, Singh has played an instrumental role in bringing disability darts into the country’s organised sporting landscape. As General Secretary of the Indian Disability Darts Association (IDDA), he has worked towards identifying talent, encouraging participation and building a structured platform for athletes with disabilities.
His contribution extends beyond administration. At the international Para Darts Championship in Malaysia in 2026, Singh won a silver medal, while the Indian contingent secured 12 medals, according to information provided by the organising team. The team’s performance also brought qualification for the Para Darts World Cup, as reported by the organisers.
Earlier in 2026, Singh played a leading role in organising the National Para Darts Championship in Kanpur, bringing together athletes from different parts of India. The championship provided an opportunity to showcase talent, encourage competitive participation and raise awareness about an emerging sport that can offer people with disabilities a meaningful route to sporting achievement.
His new Asian assignment is expected to build on these efforts by encouraging more countries to participate, strengthening national-level sporting networks and facilitating cooperation among athletes, administrators and supporting organisations.
“A wider vision for disability sports”
Singh’s sporting experience is not confined to darts. He has participated at the national level in standing kabaddi, sitting kabaddi, sitting volleyball, fencing, cricket and para shooting. This multidisciplinary background has given him an understanding of the practical challenges faced by athletes with disabilities, including access to training, suitable facilities, equipment, coaching and competitive opportunities.
He has also contributed to the development of cricket for persons with disabilities. As a former Assistant Manager of the Divyang Cricket Control Board of India, he has been involved in team coordination, sporting events and international exchanges.
His work has included India–Nepal disability cricket activities, including coordination associated with an international T20 series in Kathmandu in which the Indian team recorded a 2–1 series victory. He has also contributed to sporting engagements involving India and Sri Lanka in November 2025 and April 2026.
In addition, Singh served as Coordinator of the Indian Para-Premium League, organised by Sakhi Kendra in collaboration with the Indian Cricket Federation for Disabled. These initiatives reflect his wider commitment to using sport as a means of building confidence, encouraging teamwork and creating opportunities for athletes who often face barriers to mainstream participation.
“Connecting grassroots talent with international opportunities”
Alongside his national and international responsibilities, Singh serves as Co-Head of Divyang Aayam, Krida Bharati, Kanpur Prant. In this role, he works to encourage grassroots participation, identify promising athletes and connect them with sporting opportunities at district, state, national and international levels.
His approach emphasises the importance of building a sustainable ecosystem for disability sports rather than limiting efforts to individual competitions. This includes strengthening collaboration between sporting bodies, community organisations and other stakeholders while promoting greater public awareness of the abilities and aspirations of para-athletes.
For Singh, inclusion means more than allowing athletes with disabilities to participate. It means ensuring that they have the resources, encouragement and institutional support needed to compete, progress and receive recognition for their achievements.
“Social service beyond the sporting arena”
Singh’s commitment to empowerment also extends to education, literacy and community development. He previously served as State Coordinator for Tata Consultancy Services’ Computer-Based Functional Literacy initiative and contributed to the TCS Bridge IT programme. His work in these areas involved literacy, digital awareness, skill development and community empowerment.
He has also undertaken initiatives to support children’s education and holistic development, including a government primary school adoption initiative. His stated priorities include improving learning opportunities, encouraging physical fitness, developing self-confidence and nurturing creativity among children.
In rural communities, he has organised two awareness marathons to promote education, health, fitness and social awareness. He also represented Kanpur at the International Purple Fest in Goa, travelling as co-pilot in a specially adapted vehicle for persons with disabilities. The experience underscored the importance of accessible mobility, independence and equal participation.
His social contributions were recognised with the National Prernadut Award in 2021, presented by the Divyangjan Sashaktikaran Vibhag. He was also nominated among the “40 Most Powerful People of Madhya Pradesh” in a feature published by Rajasthan Patrika.
“Discipline, service and a spirit of inclusion”
Singh’s personal philosophy reflects the values that underpin his professional work. He has completed eight ten-day Vipassana meditation courses and participates in poetry recitations and cultural programmes on social and motivational themes. He believes that discipline, compassion, positive thinking and service are essential to effective leadership.
His journey illustrates how sporting experience can be translated into broader social responsibility. As a para-athlete, he understands the determination required to compete; as an administrator, he seeks to create the structures that help others pursue their ambitions.
“An opportunity to strengthen Asian cooperation”
As Coordinator for Asia, Singh now has an opportunity to encourage the development of disability darts beyond India. His priorities include building connections with sporting organisations across the continent, supporting athlete development, facilitating international participation and increasing awareness of the sport.
India and Nepal could be important partners in this wider effort, given their existing sporting exchanges and scope for cooperation in disability sports, youth development and community empowerment. Greater collaboration across Asia could help create more opportunities for athletes to compete internationally and share experience, training practices and organisational expertise.
Responding to the appointment, Singh expressed gratitude to his supporters, media colleagues, sporting organisations, mentors, friends and well-wishers in India and abroad. He described the responsibility as both a matter of pride and a significant commitment.
He also dedicated the achievement to athletes with disabilities who continue to pursue ambitious goals despite limited resources and challenging circumstances. His stated mission is to create equal opportunities, dignified recognition and national and international platforms for para-athletes while connecting sports with education and social development.
Mahendra Pratap Singh’s appointment is therefore more than a personal milestone for a sports administrator from Kanpur. It represents an opportunity to strengthen disability darts across Asia and reinforce a wider message: physical disability should not determine the limits of a person’s ambition, talent or contribution.
From grassroots initiatives in India to a leadership role within an international sporting association, Singh’s continuing endeavour is to turn that principle into meaningful opportunities—one athlete, one competition and one partnership at a time.
[Author Prof. S. S. Dogra is a senior journalist, media educator, Delhi Bureau Chief of Himalini Magazine, Nepal, and a member of the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of South Asia.]
