Daijiworld News Network - Mangalore (VM) - Pics Dayanand Kukkaje
 
Mangalore, Feb 25: ‘We are not weak and will show our strength.” This message was vibrant at the National Powerlifting Competition organised by the Special Olympics Bharat-Karnataka and Lions Club on Friday February 24 at St Aloysius PU college premises.

Fortysix special sportpersons arrived in the city from 11 states to participate in the event. The enthusiasm and energy of these special people, who came from as far as New Delhi, Jharkhand, Chatisgarh, Chandigarh, Gujarat, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, could put any normal person into shame.

A torch was relayed from Kadri park to the venue. The special sportsmen headed by Hassan, who represented the Indian football team in the Special Olympics in England last year, carried the torch.

The participants assembled at Loyala Hall on Friday to greet each other and give their skill test. They were all determined to do their best and to make themselves qualify for the international power lifting competition to be held in Beijing in 2OO7.

At the skill testing, all participants sat on the floor maintaining decorum, waiting to give their best shots to get qualified for the real test on Saturday. Some did it in the first attempt while some needed a second one. But none of them exhibited any hard feelings.

Special Olympics Bharat chairman Air Marshal (retired) Denzil Keelor and Special Olympics Asia Pacific managing director Troy W Gerison declared the event open.

Speaking on the occasion, Keelor said the special sports meets have seen remarkable progress in recent years as a good number of NGOs and voluntary organisations were coming forward to support the event. He said it was for the first time in the country that the power lifting championship was being conducted for the special sportspersons.

Lions district 324-D5 governor Kripa Alva was also present on the occasion.