PANJIM: Special Olympics Bharat, Goa have prepared 18 athletes, eight women and 10 men in athletics, football, basketball, volleyball, roller skating and softball for the Special Olympics World Summer Games (WSG) to be held in the United States of America from July 25 to August 2.
The announcement was made at a press conference at the Directorate Art and Cultural, Sanskruti Bhavan, here, on Saturday.
Goa’s Deputy Chief Minister Francis D’Souza was the chief guest for the kit distribution ceremony and was proud for the athletes from Goa who are part of the India team.
“We are happy to have 18 athletes from Goa participate at these prestigious games. The credit goes to all those who have been working hard for the cause. Unless we support theses athletes they cannot be independent and stand on their own feet. Goa to Los Angeles is a long way and the journey would not have been possible without the support of the Government.” Francis stated.
Also present was Director of Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs (DSYA) VM Prabhudesai, who said, “It is a very big achievement for the State and we at the DSYA are very delighted that for six years in succession athletes from Goa and India have been participating in the World Olympics. I wish the team success.”
The team will be accompanied by three coaches in football, volleyball and roller skating and one coach assistant under the mentorship of Victor Vaz, Head of Delegation for the WSG 2015.
The fitness training started, on Saturday and continues till July 18, at the Don Bosco ground, here.
Having practiced through four camps held exclusively for stepping up preparations for the World Games, special athletes from India are all braced to face the World competition.
The Special Olympics Bharat delegation will consists of over 300 athletes, coaches and officials with approximately 230 athletes who are participating in 14 out of 25 the Olympic-type sports being conducted at the games.
The sport disciplines include athletics, aquatics, bocce, basketball, badminton, table tennis, volleyball, softball, football, powerlifting, roller skating, handball, cycling and golf.
The Indian delegation will depart from four separate locations namely, Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata between July 20 and 21.
It will be India’s maiden participation in unified sports (football) at the World Games this year. Along with sports practice sessions, all the participating athletes have undergone medical screenings ensuring their fitness levels, under the Healthy Athlete program held across all the preparatory camps.
Following are the athletes. Soniya Patil, Shubham Salgaonkar, Vishram Shivaji (athletics), Riya Gawde, Urmila Parab, Avila Kane, Kushal Resham (all roller skating), Fatima Rodrigues, Alcia Antao, Tanawi Rane, Rachel Fernandes, Supresh Gaonkar (all volleyball), Sachin Suvarna (basketball), Daniel De Souza, Samir Das, Amit Fernandes (all football), Tukaram Sangaonkar, Vinay Ghade, Vishant Priolkar (all softball) and Jonathan Rodrigues, (Unified football).
Victor Vaz is the Head of Indian delegation and will represent athletics. The coaches include Samantha D’Costa (volleyball), Amit Fernandes (football), Gareth Vaz, (roller skating), Vishant Priolkar (softball), Saish Naik (assistant coach of Unified football) and Antonio Froyes (badminton).
