U.S. Department of State’s Sports Diplomacy Program Brings Wheelchair Basketball Exchange to Chennai and Coimbatore
A Wheelchair Basketball India Exchange Program funded by the Department of State and implemented in Chennai and Coimbatore through the U.S. Consulate in Chennai and partners including Tamil Nadu-based Sittruli Foundation in July and August 2025, advanced adaptive sports, fostered student achievement, and promoted cross-cultural understanding between the United States and India.
At IIT Madras, Loyola College, and the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, wheelchair basketball athletes and coaches from the University of Alabama, University of Arizona, University of Missouri, University of Michigan, University of Illinois, and the City University of New York (CUNY) participated in exhibition matches.
In Coimbatore, the U.S. delegation partnered with Kumaraguru College of Technology and conducted wheelchair basketball clinics on the campus.
U.S. Consulate General Chennai Public Diplomacy Officer Eric Atkins said, “This program exemplifies the power of sports diplomacy to bridge cultures and empower individuals. By bringing together talented wheelchair basketball athletes and coaches from the U.S. and India, we are not only fostering athletic development but also promoting mutual understanding, leadership, and advocacy for disability inclusion on a global scale.”