Tamil Nadu team back home with 17 medals
Twenty-year-old Platini Maran from Chennai also bagged a gold medal in athletics (100 mts)
By : DC Correspondent
Update: 2015-08-06 05:13 GMT
Chennai: The contingent from Tamil Nadu returned home after bagging a total of 17 medals at the Special Olympics World Games held in Los Angeles. They were received at the airport on Wednesday afternoon by members of the Special Olympics Bharat Tamil Nadu and were presented with bouquets and flowers.
“I am really very proud of this achievement in the World Summer Games and of making my country proud. We worked hard for the last four years, attending camps, interacting with athletes and coaches and parents,” said Chandrashekhar Santhanam, who bagged two gold medals in rollerskating (1,000m & 300m) and one silver medal (500mts).
“Our efforts have been duly rewarded especially after the hard journey and sleepless nights. I am happy to meet my family people and all my well wishers and supporters, fans and NGOs and the people who were the backbone behind the team from Tamil Nadu,” he said adding that he was thankful to people of Tamil Nadu who have been encouraging.
Twenty-year-old Platini Maran from Chennai also bagged a gold medal in athletics (100 mts) while Vinnarasi bagged a silver in the same event (100mts athletics).
Other medallists include Esakki Suriya who bagged two silver and two bronze medals in powerlifting. The youngest of the lot 12-year-old Devi bagged two silver medals in rollerskating. Kamalesh and Manikandan won bronze in 7 a-side football.
“Hard work of our coaches, the entire team of Special Olympics Bharat Tamil Nadu and our efforts and determination led to this success,” said Paul Devasagayam, area director, Special Olympics Bharat Tamil Nadu.
Overall India collected a total of 173 medals out of which 47 were Gold, 54 Silver and 72 Bronze. Tamil Nadu bettered its tally from 11 medals in 2011 Special Olympics World Games to 17 this year.