Laxmi is mentally challenged but her zeal to do something extraordinary puts her into the league of sports achievers.
Table tennis star Laxmi Shetty to don India colours at Shanghai Games.
BELAPUR: Kalamboli-based Laxmi Shetty is mentally challenged but her zeal to do something extraordinary puts her into the league of sports achievers. Laxmi, a student of Swami Brahmanand Special Care Centre, Belapur will be representing India in the World Special Games to be held at Shanghai in October 2007.
Laxmi, who is studying in the Centre for the past 10 years, took to the sports only three years ago and made it to the Indian team with her sheer determination. “Compared to last year, her reflexes, backhand and cross cuts have improved a lot. We just have to maintain the consistency in her progress,” explained her coach G V Sastry.
The students from the care centre are trained in various sports and extra-curricular activities. The steps to prepare students for Special Olympics were taken in 2003 itself. “With an aim to prepare students for Special Olympics, we started imparting them training in various sports such as swimming, table tennis and others. While doing this, we noticed that few students are excelling in one particular sport and so we pushed them in that sport only. As a result of that, today we have Laxmi among us who will carry the Indian pride off shore,” stated Shirish Pujari, managing trustee of the Centre.
Initially, the 18-year-old table tennis player used to practice daily at Navi Mumbai Sports Association (NMSA), Vashi and later after receiving two tables from Nerul Gymkhana, started practicing at the Centre itself. “For first one year, I practiced at NMSA and now from two years sir (G V Sastry) is coaching me at our Centre itself,” explained Laxmi.
She first made a mark for herself in 2004 when she bagged third place in the State-level Table Tennis Championship for Special Children and thereafter never turned back. In 2005, she stood first in Maharashtra State Games at Mumbai and in the same year bagged first place in doubles and second place in singles at 2005 Special National Games.
Aiming to bag glory for the country in the Shanghai Special Olympics, Laxmi is practicing rigorously besides her regular warm-up and other exercises. “Laxmi’s efforts should bear the fruit as this would be a great victory for humanity as well as for India. Laxmi being a special child, also requires special attention and extra expenditure. Her expenditure for the trip is shared by the Centre, Special Olympics Bharat and her parents. However, any help in any form would be highly appreciated,” concluded Pujari.
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