A Wheelchair Basketball India Exchange Program, funded by the U.S. Department of State and organized in Chennai and Coimbatore during July and August 2025, has helped advance adaptive sports, support student achievement, and encourage cross-cultural understanding between the United States and India. The initiative was implemented through the U.S. Consulate in Chennai in collaboration with partners including the Tamil Nadu-based Sittruli Foundation. The program featured 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). In Chennai, exhibition matches were held at IIT Madras, Loyola College, and the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. In Coimbatore, the U.S. delegation partnered with Kumaraguru College of Technology, conducting wheelchair basketball clinics on campus to share skills and promote adaptive sports training. Speaking about the initiative, 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.” @@@@
