There was a medal spurt for athletes from Goa as Siya Sarode and Taniya Ulhas Usgaonkar accounted for a total of five medals into Team India’s tally at the ongoing 2023 Special Olympics Summer Games in Berlin.
A student of Keshav Seva Sadhana, Bicholim, the 15-year-old Usgaonkar was third best for a bronze in the 30 metres straight line roller-skating event, while Sarode brought home two gold (in the Dead Lift and Squat), a silver in the Combined and a bronze in the Bench Press, on Wednesday.
Usgaonkar, who hails from Deulwada in Surla-Palli, will have another crack at a medal when she participates in the 30m slalom competition.
Usgaonkar finished behind the Romanian duo of Mihal Arsenie and Corina Campeanu in the DO3 division at the Eisporthalle in Berlin.
“This is a dream come true for us all. Our young girl promised to bring home two medals, and she has now taken a first step towards this goal,” Taniya’s elated mum Anita said.
“Let’s now wait for her to bring back a gold medal in her second event. I am confident she will achieve this,” she added.
Goa had opened Team India’s medal hunt on Tuesday after Geetanjali Nagvekar took gold in the women’s Level D 800 metres. Goa has a presence of 13 athletes in Team India’s contingent of 280 at the Berlin Games.
The Indian contingent has been doing well picking up several medals as the competition entered its fourth day.
Dinesh Shanmugan brought home a silver in the men’s 50m Breaststroke Level A with a time of 46.59 secs, while Madhav pocketed gold in the 25m Breaststroke later in the evening.
There were other commendable feats from the roller skating-rink with India adding two golds, two silvers and four bronze medals through the day.
Team India also added six medals in the powerlifting competition with Tusharnath Singh winning silver in the men’s 74kg Bench Press and a bronze in the men’s 74kg Deadlift.
Junki Pahadin was in fine form with four silver medals in the women’s 52kg Bench Press, 52kg Squat, 52kg Deadlift and the Combined event. The 2023 Special Olympics Summer Games will go on in Berlin till June 25.
