BASIL SYLVESTER PINTO
PANAJI
Two of the stars of the Goan Special Olympics contingent -- Sabita Yadav and Sejal Rajkumar Nayer -- almost did not make it to the World Summer Games in Abu Dhabi.
According to an official, Sabita had to deal with passport issues, while Sejal had also reservations back home to deal with. It required the situational changing abilities of Vrushali Cardozo, Area Director, Special Olympics Bharat, to get these gifted special athletes aboard the flight to Abu Dhabi.
And the effort bore fruition as Sabita bagged a gold in table tennis, and also won a silver in the same discipline in the doubles category. On her part, Sejal did her State and country proud by clinching an athletics gold in 200m run.
“It requires awareness from the media that it is very safe for them (special athletes) to travel and we take care of them. Apart from that, the complete expenditure is borne by us,” highlighted Victor Vaz, National Sports Director, Special Olympics Bharat.
