Gold Rush for India at Special Olympics World Games 2023 in Berlin
Berlin, June 21: India’s athletes achieved remarkable success at the Special Olympics World Games 2023 held in Berlin, securing a series of gold medals on Tuesday. Geetanjali Nagvekar started the day with a sensational performance in the 800m Level C, clinching the gold medal and setting the stage for India’s golden spree.
The action commenced at the Hanns-Braun-Stadion at Olympiapark, where Geetanjali triumphed with a time of 4:31:40. Her impressive victory, almost eight seconds ahead of her closest competitor, secured India’s first gold medal. Shortly after, India added a silver medal in the male 800m event. Due to heavy rainfall, the focus shifted to the indoor arenas across Berlin.
Indian athletes excelled in various sports, including handball, badminton, powerlifting, swimming, and roller skating. Dinesh Shanmugam continued his outstanding performance from the previous day by securing a silver medal in the Male 50m breaststroke, Level A, with a time of 46.59. Towards the end of the day, Madhav contributed to India’s medal tally by winning a gold medal in the Swimming 25M Breaststroke event.
However, the most remarkable achievements came from the roller-skating rink, where Indian athletes displayed their prowess and collected an impressive haul of eight medals, including two golds, two silvers, and four bronzes.
The highlight of the roller-skating events was the 500m races. Saraswati, fueled by a passionate crowd, captured the gold medal in the women’s category. Right from the start, she established a commanding lead, leaving her competitors far behind. Remarkably, Saraswati had only started skating six months ago but has proven to be a high achiever.
“We always knew she had it in her, but she lacked the financial support from her family,” said coach Anil Kumar. “With this significant achievement, we hope there will be increased support for her and other talented athletes across the country.”
In another thrilling race, Deepen Prakash Sakhrani and Angelina Mary Poussin, both representing India, competed in the same 500m event. The duo initially raced neck and neck, but Deepen surged ahead after the first 100m, gradually extending his lead. It seemed India would secure two medals on the podium, but Angelina narrowly missed out, finishing a commendable fourth. Sakhrani secured the gold medal.
Furthermore, India secured six medals in Powerlifting. Tusharnath Singh claimed a silver medal in the Men’s 74kg Bench Press and a bronze medal in the Men’s 74kg Deadlift. Junki Pahadin also made India proud by winning four silver medals in the Women’s 52kg Bench Press, 52kg Squat, 52kg Deadlift, and Combined Event.
On June 21st, Indian athletes are poised to compete in Athletics, roller skating, badminton, powerlifting, cycling, and swimming, with the potential for more medal-winning performances.
