Special girl to take part at World Games

Mangalore Today News Network

Uppinangady: Rebecca, specially challenged girl from Students of ’Mardhala Bethany Jeevana Jyothi School’ is selected to take part in Special Olympics World Games scheduled to be held at Los Angeles USA in basketball on July 22.

Through her talent, she has adapted to her disability in achievening success. She is the daughter of daily wage labourer Siji and Rosamma from Nettana Palthaje.  She has been with Mardhala Bethany Jeevana Jyothi School due to her disability.

The Special Olympics will have 140 nations across the world attending. A multi-talented Rebecca, her talent is not restricted to basketball alone. She had won first place in shot put and 400 metre race held at Bengaluru in 2011. She had also won shot put and 400 metre relay held at New Delhi in 2014. She had also won prizes in national level shuttle badminton held at Chennai and in 400 metre race in Para Olympics at New Delhi in 2013.

Rebecca had won laurels in the State-level cultual programmestoo. She had won first place in folk dance held in Bengaluru in 2014. She is also interested in painting and tailoring. The school does not have a basketball court. She was taken to an affiliated institution in Noojibalthila, Nelyadi to train her in basketball. She not allowed her disability to come in the way to bring laurels to the state and to the school.

Physical education teacher who is also her trainer Prabhakar Markanja said that Rebecca was initially raw but gifted . She would like to be on her own and was slow in responding. Over a period of time, she developed interest and started teaching other kids in the school too.

Delighted over the achievement of their daughter, Rebecca’s father Siji and mother Rosamma said they were  villagers living by daily labour. Our daughter is a special child and we were finding it difficult to take her to school. With the efforts of convener, and teachers, she has done well.  They are not able to imagine that she would achieve so much in her life.