Pramila Pinto of Manasa on her way to World Summer Games at Athens in Greece
By Dr. Eugene DSouza, Moodubelle
Bellevision Media Network
Pamboor, 06 June 2011: It is a proud moment in the life of Pramila Pinto individually and the Manasa Rehabilitation and Training Centre for Mentally Challenged Children, Pamboor as she is on her way to participate in the World Summer Games at Athens in Greece also known as the Special Olympics in which specially abled athletes from all over the world will participate in different sporting categories. The World Summer Games-Athens will take place from 22 June to 4 July 2011. Pramila Pinto will be participating in the Roller Skating Event.
A brief function to Wish success to Pramila in the forthcoming World Summer Games was held at the Manasa on Monday, June 6, 2011 at 11.30 am. Mrs. Jayashree Krishnaraj of Malpe who is the Region Chairman of the Lions Club, General Secretary of the Udupi District Mahila Congress and the Secretary of the Organizing Committee of the Karnataka State Mahila Congress who has sponsored the Roller Skates to Pramila Pinto for the World Summer Games was the chief guest of the function. Other guests included Lakshminarayan Upadhyaya, District Level Coach of Roller Skating from Ambalpadi, Udupi, Fr. Charles Lewis, Parish Priest of the Holy Cross Church, Pamboor, Ms. Remedia D’Souza, President of the Manasa Managing Committee, Dr. Gerald Pinto, Secretary of the Manasa Managing Committee and Mrs. Vanita Devraj, Vice President of the Parents-Teachers’ Association.
In their brief messages, Mrs. Jayashree Krishnaraj, Lakshminarayan Upadhyaya, Fr. Charles Lewis, Dr. Gerald Pinto and Ms. Remedia D’Souza wished Pramila Pinto safe journey to Bangalore, Delhi and onwards to Athens and back and hoped and prayed that she will perform well in the Roller Skating competition at the World Summer Games and win medals and make Manasa proud by her achievements.
Pramila Pinto, in her reply to best wishes from the dignitaries profusely thanked Mrs. Jayashree Krishnaraj for sponsoring the Roller Skates, Lakshminarayan Upadhyaya for coaching her in Roller Skating and other sponsors and management and teachers for their support. She also assured that she will do her best at the games.
The dignitaries on the dais and the teachers collectively presented flower bouquets to Pramila Pinto as a token of their appreciation of her efforts and wishing her good luck in the forthcoming World Summer Games. The students presented a song of ‘good luck and best wishes’ in honour of Pramila Pinto.
Sr. Vinny Gonsalves, Principal of Manasa welcomed the guests and Ms. Vinaya compeered the programme.
Sr. Vinny Gonsalves, Principal of Manasa said that Pramila Pinto will be leaving for Bangalore tonight accompanied by her physical educator, Shiny M.C. On June 7, along with other athletes, Pramila will proceed to Delhi where she will attend the last pre-Olympic Camp from June 9 to June 19, 2011. On June 20, 2011, the Indian team will leave for the World Summer Games at Athens and following the end of the games will return to Delhi on July 6, 2011 and arrive at Bangalore on July 8, 2011.
Pramila Pinto is the eldest daughter of Robert and Philomena Pinto of Bondantila Village of Vamanjoor. Being a specially-abled child she was admitted to Manasa on August 11, 1998. She manifested her interest in various activities and participated actively in sports and cultural events. Presently, she is doing her Vocation Course in Arts and Crafts.
Pramila developed an interest in Roller Skating in 2009 and had an opportunity to attend the National Coaching and Championship Camp for Roller Skating at Hyderabad in September 2009. Her dedication, ability and determination prompted the selectors to shortlist Pramila Pinto as a probable athlete to be trained in pre-Olympics preparatory national camps which she attended at Pondicherry in June 2010 and Hyderabad in October 2010. Her performance and hard work in these pre-Olympics camps assured a place for her in the Indian Roller Skating team for the World Summer Games at Athens, Greece which will be held between June 22 to July 4, 2011.