Udupi, 26 Nov 2012: Her name is Sunitha Lobo and her age is 20 years. Being a chatterbox, this young girl has dreams of winning gold medal in the Special Olympics that will be held in South Korea. When asked what would you do Sunitha? She answers in all her innocence that she would win gold medal.
Meet Sunitha who is a student of eighth standard in the Manasa Rehabilitation and Training Center at Pamboor. Besides studying in eighth standard, she is also being trained in tailoring. She has talent for singing as well as dancing. Because of these abilities, no one can suspect that since childhood she has been mentally challenged.
Sunitha Lobo
Having lost her father, Sunitha has been living with her mother Helen Lobo in Barkur. She has four siblings-two brother and two sisters. With grinding poverty of the family, if she was spared from being mentally challenged, Sunitha would have been a support to the family.
Sunitha will be participating in the Special Olympics that will be held in South Korea from January 29 to February 5, 2013. She has been selected as the only player from Karnataka in Floor Hockey Team that will be representing India.
Ms. Remedia D’Souza
The 12 members Floor Hockey Team has 4 players each from Maharashtra and Delhi, 2 from Chandigarh and one each from Gujarat and Karnataka, Sunitha being from Karnataka.
In spite of her talents, Sunitha does not have any facilities for Floor Hockey training in Udupi. Having shown her ability in this kind of sports, National Special Olympics Committee has provided training to Sunitha in Bangalore and Shimla. In the selection games that were hled in Delhi, Sunitha sealed her place in the Indian team by scoring five goals.
Presently, Sunitha is making preparations to leave for South Korea for the Special Olympics. However, financial constraints have come as a great impediment. So far Manasa has spent over Rs.20,000/- She requires clothes, sports shoes, Visa, pass port, etc. which would collectively cost at least one lakh of rupees. As there is no hope of getting any government grant, Sunitha is awaiting the help from generous sports loving persons and promises everyone that she would win gold medal at the Special Olympics.
Those generous persons who would like to sponsor Sunitha in her quest for Gold Medal can send their contribution to
Syndicate Bank, Shankerpura.
Account Number:02382200017129.
For additional information Manasa President Ms. Remedia D’Souza may be contacted:9880757880.