World Winter Games in Korea
JOVITO LOPES
sports@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: Goa’s differently-abled athletes did the State proud as they returned with a gold and a silver being part of India’s contingent in floor hockey at 2013 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Pyeong Chang, South Korea which ended on Tuesday.
The India women team in which two Goan girls – Valencia Fernandes of Gujarati Samaj and Puja Krishna Resham of Keshav Seva Sadna Bicholim – participated won the gold while the men’s team in which one Goan boy took part – Aviraj Kalangutkat of SFAL People’s High School Panjim – claimed the silver losing to Taipei 1-2. Goa’s Carlton Gomes was the coach of the hockey team and Victor Vaz the overall technical head.
In all, India won 75 medals – 28 gold, 31 silver and 16 bronze – from among specially-challenged (intellectual disabilities) 2200 athletes from over 120 nations in the Games which ended on Tuesday.
India doubled their medal tally from the World Winter Games 2009.
The 8-day Games were conducted in eight sports — alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, figure skating, short track speed skating, floor hockey and floorball.
One of the most touching moments in the ceremony for all the athletes and their families, officials and volunteers, came with commemorating Gareth Cowin, from the Isle of Man (Great Britain), who died in PyeongChang whilst representing the island at the Games.
Cowin, a floor hockey player, passed away on January 30.
The highlight for the closing ceremony was the figure skating performance by two Olympic champions – Michelle Kwan and Yu-Na Kim. After a duo dance by Kwan and Kim, the two sports legends also led the figure skaters with intellectual disabilities dancing ‘Gangnam Style’ on the ice.
