Special Olympics: Sekhon bags double gold

Delhi teen and roller-skater Prabhroop Sekhon

Los Angeles/New Delhi, July 31 (IANS) Fourteen-year-old Prabhroop Sekhon won a double gold for India in roller-skating, while Phoolan Devi bagged the yellow metal in powerlifting at the Special Olympics here on Friday.

Sekhon, who has severe autism, claimed two gold medals in 300m and 500m roller-skating. He is a student of ASHA school, Lucknow Cantonment, where he has been coached.

Phoolan Devi won the first gold for India at power-lifting (bench press). She also won three bronze medals in powerlifting (all lifts, dead-lift and squat lift).

Sonakshi won bronze medal in power-lifting (bench-press). Another contestant, Mathru, won the gold medal for softball, a team event.

Meanwhile, a Delhi government release said the inmates of Asha Kiran sponsored by the government has won seven medals till now. Sonakshi, Phoolan Devi and Mathru are all from Asha Kiran.

Held in the US city of Los Angeles from July 25^th, the World Summer Games 2015 will conclude on the 2^nd of August.

Special Olympics Bharat is a movement that uses sports as a catalyst to transform the lives of children and adults with intellectual disability.

Residents of Asha Kiran were selected by the Special Olympics-Bharat through a vigorous selection procedure including championships at district, state and national levels and four preparatory camps held in Delhi and other parts of India, the statement said.