PANJIM: Indian athlete excelled at the Special Olympics World Summer Games in Abu Dhabi pocketing 368 medals.
A strong Indian contingent of 287 athletes and 73 coaches led by Victor R. Vaz the National Sports Director, Special Olympics Bharat and also Head of the Mission participated in the seven day festival and bagged 85 gold, 154 silver and 129 bronze medals in the highly successful campaign at the event.
The first timers judokas athletes from Goa, Rupesh, SabitaYadav, Sejal and Harshad Deepak had a tough competition but emerged victorious winning the gold medals respectively.
As the games continued to unfold the medal tally of the Goan athletes continued to add to the Indian medal tally. In futsal the team secured the silver medal.
The Goan athletes did contribute to the medal tally as they claimed 20 medals which include five gold, five silver and 10 bronze. The following athletes won gold: Nayer Sejal Rajkumar bagged gold in 200m run, Kallu Banpagol Rupesh in judo; Gaonkar Harshad Deepak in roller skating – 300m and 500m; Yadav Sabita in table tennis.
Adekar Rajesh Yellappa (400m run); Barad Sairaj Sanjeev (roller skating 1000m); Sabita Yadav (table tennis – doubles – female doubles); Gauresh (volleyball ); Harsha (futsal) won silver medals.
The following managed to clinch the bronze for the country: Adekar Rajesh Yellappa (200m run); Cynthis Lobo (football – unified – 7-a-side – female); Arpita (football – unified – 7-a-side – female); Shitu (football – unified – 7-a-side – female); Chitrakashi (football – unified – 7-a-side – female); Mishlyn (handball-Team Competition- female); Sahnti (handball-Team Competition- female); Lotlikar Suvet Satish (powerlifting- bench press); Lotlikar Suvet Satish (powerlifting – combined squat, bench press and deadlift); Kane Avila Anant (roller skating- 100m).
Indian powerlifters bagged the maximum number of medals — 20 gold, 33 silver and 43 bronze. Roller Skating earned India 49 medals — 13 gold, 20 silver and 16 bronze.
In cycling, the Indians won 11 gold, 14 silver and 20 bronze to total 45 medals, while the country’s track and field athletes returned with 39 medals — 5 gold, 24 silver and 10 bronze. The Goan contingent will arrive Goa by fligth A.I 883.
