Master Royston Pinto (20), country's fastest skater among special persons, who works in a private bank, Dhanya Rao (14), who has won medals in national level meets, and Anli Mendoca, a Student of St Agnes Special School are the Special Olympics medalists from Mangalore. Pramila Pinto (20) is from Pambur in Udupi.
While Royston won the 1,000 M speed skating race in the higher ability category, Dhanya, bagged two gold medals, one in the 30 M Slalom Race where she had to make snake-like movement between five equidistant cones and 30 M Straight Line Race, in the lower ability category. Pramila, who participated in the lower ability category but in the higher age group, bagged gold in 30 M Straight Line and bronze in 30 M Slalom Race. Anil Mendonca bagged a bronze medal in volleyball.
Soon after the four achievers arrived at KSRTC Bus Stand at around 9:30 am, they were on a grand procession through PVS Circle to Chetana Bala Vikasa Kendra, where Asha Jyothi, a forum for the physically challenged and their parents, honoured them in the presence of Mayor Praveen Anchan, MCC Commissioner KN Vijayaprakash, Zilla Panchayat President KT Shailaja Bhat and other dignitaries.
Speaking on the occasion Mr Vijayaprakash said that medalists have set a model for the entire country by overcoming their disabilities through hard work and commitment.
Mayor Anchan announced that a cash award of Rs 50,000 would be given to each winners from the MCC, while Ms Bhat said that ZP would give incentives to them.
After receiving the felicitation all the four medalists expressed their whole hearted gratitude to their parents, coaches, for their support and cooperation and also thanked the people for their encouragement.
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