Manasa Special School Student Sunita Bags Gold in Special Olympics despite Dogma of Society & Govt
By Snehalatha, Udupi
Bellevision Media Network
Why Disparity in Announcing Prizes to Other Athletes and Special Olympic Gold Medalist?
Udupi,05 Feb 2013: Twenty-one-year-old Sunita Lobo, a student of Manasa Special School, located at Pamboor, near here has bagged gold in floor hockey competitions at Special Olympics that was held in South Korea. The athlete Ashwini Akkunje, national Kabaddi captain Mamata Poojary from Udupi district already made their mark international sports, while Sunita marvelous feat in Special Olympics indeed brought laurels to Karnataka and the nation.
Sunita, being a special student and sports woman, she did not get any publicity. None of them have taken her seriously. She did not get that much of publicity which Ashwini Akkunje and Mamata Poojary got after their debut. Manasa Special School in great difficulty raised the training fees of Rs 1 lac to qualify her in Special Olympics.
Sunita is not the first woman in Karnataka to bag gold in Special Olympics. Pramila Pinto of same school also bagged gold in skating in the past. The state government has not advanced any funds for her training, neither child welfare department nor sports department.
The situation of Sunita is not different. Manasa Special School has borne the passport fee, training, clothes, sports gear etc, while Special Olympics with great difficulty borne her airfare. Sunita has won gold in Special Olympics competing with her talented sports women from China, USA, Japan and advanced countries. It’s not a small achievement compared to her bodily limitations. She gets no privilege of a house or housing site, sponsorship for her further study in recognition of her marvelous achievement overseas. It is condemnable that both government and society shows partiality in this regard.
Its significant that Karnataka has no training ground for floor hockey, while she had to undergo training in Simla. Her marvelous feat is not limited to her, instead she has brought laurels to India. The union government and Karnataka government are expected to identify the talent in Sunita and support in her future endeavour.
Sunita determined to win gold:
When www.bellevision.com contacted Sunita, she said that she was determined to win gold and proved it.
Sunita is the daughter of Helen Lobo, a native of Barkoor, near here. Her father passed away when she was small. Her diminished mental capability forced to abandon normal schooling when she was twelve-years-old. She was admitted to Manasa Special School, and learns tailoring. She is on her way to lead confident life by tailoring profession. She needs support from philanthropists as she has a strong determination to excel despite all odds in life.
Meanwhile, one wonder why disparity persists in announcing prizes to other athletes and Special Olympic gold medalist?
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| snehalatha, udupi | Wed, February-6-2013, 1:59 |
| Thanku Mudartha sir | |
| Robert D Costa, Mangalore | Wed, February-6-2013, 1:56 |
| I am humbled in gold medallist Sunita's achievement, because the able-bodied majority of Indians hardly make it to Olympics or international sports arena. However, the apathy of youth and sports department indeed pushes one to despair, when real talent shines and no help coming from governmental agencies. The genuine talent has to be recognized in free India because every Indian gets the credit in Sunita's achievement. Hope the attitude changes to better in nurturing budding sportsmen and sportswomen regardless of differently-abled or general alike in the nation. | |
| Victor Castelino, Boliye/Dubai | Tue, February-5-2013, 12:40 |
| India had sent a contingent of 79 which included 58 athletes and the rest officials (ref. PTI report dated 25th Jan 2013). For the first time Indian Floor Hocky Womens Team is contesting and it is heartening to note that the team has won the gold as reported by BV. In this team there is a girl from Gujarat also named Maya Devipujak who hails from one of the slums of Gujarat near Mehsana railway track. Recognition comes for these athletes only if the media highlight their achievements and the local representatives without any political or religious bias take up thier cause with the state adminitration which in turn will take it up at the national level. | |
| Ronald Sabi, Moodubelle | Tue, February-5-2013, 12:09 |
| Congratulations!!! I too join Belle Gram Panchayath with the joy!!! | |
| Rajendra Shetty, President Belle Grama Panchayat, Moodubelle | Tue, February-5-2013, 10:27 |
| Congratulations to Sunitha Lobo of Manasa, Pamboor for winning the Gold Medal in floor hockey competitions at Special Olympics that was held in Korea. All the members of the Belle Grama Panchayat and all the people of Belle are proud of her achievements. | |
| Francis J. Saldanha, Moodubelle / Bahrain | Tue, February-5-2013, 10:26 |
| Those who dream big often achieve great. Those who dare to dream also dare to conquer hitherto unknown terrains. To such persons only sky could be the limit. Success is sure if there is dedication, commitment and hard work. Congratulations! Sunita Lobo on your splendid achievement. We are proud of you. Keep up the good work and all the best in future. | |
| Baptist Sequeira, Belle | Tue, February-5-2013, 10:15 |
| Great News. Congratulations Sunitha Lobo. | |
| Philip Mudartha, Qatar | Tue, February-5-2013, 7:57 |
| To the Gold Medalist, I pledge a prize money of Five thousand rupees in celebration. I do not feel shame in announcing it here. For previous two years Pamboorians in Qatar as a group and also individually have supported Manasa, and honored Pramila Pinto. There are two groups of overseas Pamboorians on Facebook. Many good and generous members of these groups will come forward in celebration and support. | |
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