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By Dipaneeta Das: More than 200 athletes are preparing to participate in the Special Olympics World Summer Games Berlin 2023, and among them are 11 individuals from West Bengal who have overcome significant hardships to secure their positions.
The participants have already commenced rigorous practice in preparation for the upcoming preparatory camp in Noida.
Papia Murmu and Iti Mal, residents of Nagari Kantabuni village in Block No. 1 of Siuri, are making their dreams come true as they eagerly anticipate representing India in Berlin.
Expressing her excitement about her first visit to Europe for such a prestigious event, Papia Murmu stated, “I am going to Germany for the Special Olympics. I will be travelling to Delhi first, where there will be a few days of preparatory matches. Then, on June 11, I will proceed to Germany. Before this, I had the opportunity to represent India in America. I feel incredibly grateful.”
Murmu hails from a remote village in the Birbhum district, where she and her parents struggle to make ends meet with a minimal income.
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Iti Mal, another participant, shared her excitement as her long-held dream is finally coming true. She can hardly believe that she has been given the chance to travel to Germany. “Everyone at home is overjoyed. This has been a dream for a long time,” she exclaimed.
Iti’s mother, Sushmita Mal, shed tears of happiness as she recalled her daughter’s journey of hard work. “There was a time when she faced rejection. I raised my daughter with great difficulty. I cannot express how happy I am today,” said Iti’s mother.
India is preparing to send 202 athletes and partners, along with 59 coaches, to participate in 15 sports at the Special Olympics World Summer Games Berlin 2023. The Special Olympics will be held in Berlin, Germany, from June 14 to June 29, featuring various sports competitions, including football, basketball, handball, and volleyball. Around 170 countries will compete in 24 sports at the Special Olympics.
The Indian players have already been selected for this significant event. A total of 18 individuals were chosen from various parts of the country, including Gujarat and Delhi, during the selection process in April, with 11 of them being residents of the Birbhum district.
(With inputs from Shantanu Hazra)
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