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?