Odisha athletes contributed six medals to India’s best ever tally of 368 medals in the 15th Special Olympics World Summer Games which was held at Abu Dhabi in United Arab Emirates from March 14 to 21, 2019. The medals included one gold, three silver and two bronze.

Among Odisha athletes, Sandeep was part of the Indian men team that won the gold medal in unified handball event. The three silver medals were harvested by Rajashree Mohapatra in five-a-side female futsal, Pravat Baral in badminton singles and Ronak Parek-Rajat Kedia duo in male unified basketball.

Pravat Baral also secured one bronze medal in male badminton doubles. The other bronze medal was claimed by Mukta Munda in seve-a-side female football. According to Special Olympics Bharat-Odisha Area Director, Prakash K Rath, Odisha contingent featured nine athletes/partners, two coaches/mentors and one one official (Assistant Head of Delegation Prakash Rath).

The Indian contingent, comprising 284 athletes clinched 85 gold, 154 silver and 129 bronze medals at the Special Olympics World Summer Games. Indian powerlifters bagged the maximum number of medals _ 20 gold, 33 silver and 43 bronze.

Roller skating earned India 49 medals (13 gold, 20 silver and 16 bronze). In cycling, the Indians won 11 gold, 14 silver and 20 bronze to total 45 medals, while track and field athletes returned with 39 medals (5 gold, 24 silver and 10 bronze).

ODISHA REPRESENTATIVES IN INDIAN CONTINGENT: Rajashree Mohapatra, Rushali Jena, Pravat Baral (athletes), Mukta Munda, Ronak Parakh, Rajat Kumar Kedia, Sandeep (unified partner). Arpita Mohapatra (coach), Bibekanda Mohanty (mentor), Indramani Kandi (athlete leader), Bibharani Patra (youth leader) and Prakash K Rath (Assistant Head of Delegation).
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PHOTO: Members of Indian seven-a-side female football team pose with their bronze medal in Abu Dhabi.