Turin, Italy (16/03/2025): Sipra Priyadarshini, a student of Open Learning Systems, Bhubaneswar, stood up and decided to be counted as a determined Special Olympics Athlete in the World Winter Games held in Turin from 8th to 15th of this month. The diminutive goalkeeper of Special Olympics Bharat was like a wall thwarting several attempts of the oppositions at the goal in the Female Floorball competition and being instrumental in bagging the bronze medal for the team.
The results in numbers cannot reflect the indomitable spirit of Sipra and her team mates.
In the Divisioning Round 1, SO Bharat beat SO Trinidad and Tobago 2 – 0.
In Round 2, SO Bharat won against SO Uruguay 3 – 0.
In Round 3, it lost narrowly to SO Bangladesh by a solitary goal.
In the Round 4, SO Bharat bounced back to beat SO Morocco 1 – 0.
In Round 5, SO Bharat drew against a strong SO Ukraine 1 – 1.
In the Group A games Round 1, SO Ukraine beat SO Bharat 4 – 1.
Round 2 went to SO Bharat against SO Trinidad and Tobago 8 – 4.
In Round 3, SO Bangladesh once again beat SO Bharat 2 – 1.
In the Semifinals SO Ukraine beat SO Bharat by a slim margin of 2 – 1.
However, in the battle for the 3rd spot, SO Bharat went on the rampage, beating SO Trinidad and Tobago 10 goals to 2, thereby ensuring the bronze for itself and redeeming its pride as a champion on the world stage.
Prakash Rath, Area Director of Special Olympics Bharat – Odisha doing duty at the World Games as the Head Delegation Assistant Liaison of SO Bharat, expressed his jubilation on the achievement stating, “Even though I have been stationed in the snowy mountains, I have been keeping track of the progress of the Female Floorball Team of SO Bharat through my teammate, Ann. I knew that this team like in the previous editions will definitely win a medal. I am glad it did again. This time, it is special because of the achievement of Sipra Priyadarshini. A stellar performance indeed. A lot of the credit goes to her coach in Odisha, Geeta Panda, for her untiring efforts in honing the skills of Sipra as a goalkeeper. Congratulations to both of them, to the SO Bharat team and all those who contributed to this success.”
The Board Members of Special Olympics Bharat-Odisha led by President, Sunita Mund, Vice President, Umakanta Sarangi, Sports Director, Sasmita Mohapatra, Treasurer, Suresh Chandra Khuntia, State Program Coordinator, Arpita Mohapatra, ID Expert, Manatosh Behera, Member, Tanmay Bhusan Senapati, and Parents’ Representative, Diptimayee Rout, have sent congratulatory messages to Sipra and the Team. Kasturi Mohapatra, former President, SOB Odisha, has lauded the efforts and has expressed her happiness for Sipra who is a student of her school. The Odisha Parents’ Association Representative, Subhagini Sahu, and many from the sports and media have sent congratulatory messages for Sipra.
