Indian Football Team Wins Gothia Cup in Sweden
The Indian football team, supported by SKF India, returned to New Delhi after winning the Gothia Cup in Gothenburg, Sweden. The team, made up of athletes with intellectual and developmental delays, remained unbeaten in their group and lifted the prestigious trophy.
Welcome Ceremony
A welcome ceremony was organized by Special Olympics Bharat (SO Bharat) at The Lalit, New Delhi. Distinguished guests, including Chief Guest Raksha Khadse, Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports, and Mallika Nadda, President of SO Bharat, attended the event.
Gothia Cup Highlights
The Gothia Cup tournament began with a grand ceremony on July 15 at Ullevi, attended by over 49,000 spectators. The tournament featured 1910 teams, including 50 Special Olympics teams from 15 countries. The SO Bharat team was placed in Group 5 and won all their matches, including a thrilling final against SO Denmark with a score of 4-3.
Key Player
Muhammad Shaheer from Kerala scored seven goals, the most by any Indian player. Shaheer, who has an intellectual disability, is passionate about football, cycling, and swimming.
Statements from Dignitaries
Raksha Khadse congratulated the team, saying, “I am extremely happy to be here and listen to the stories of these athletes who have overcome many struggles to bring glory to our country.”
Mallika Nadda added, “Today is a significant day as it’s the Global Day of Inclusion. The victory of the SO Bharat Champions at the Gothia Cup is a result of impeccable training and motivation.”
Coach Harpreet Singh Gambhir emphasized the importance of team coordination, while Mukund Vasudevan, President of SKF India, praised the team’s dedication and resilience.
Team Composition
The SO Bharat contingent, making their debut at the Gothia Cup, included 10 athletes and 3 coaches from six states: Delhi, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Puducherry, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.
Doubts Revealed
Gothia Cup -: The Gothia Cup is a big football (soccer) tournament held in Sweden where teams from all over the world come to play.
SKF India -: SKF India is a company that makes parts for machines and vehicles. They supported the Indian football team.
intellectual and developmental delays -: This means that some of the players on the team learn and develop more slowly than others, but they still play football very well.
New Delhi -: New Delhi is the capital city of India where the team was welcomed back after winning the tournament.
Raksha Khadse -: Raksha Khadse is an Indian politician who praised the football team’s efforts.
Mallika Nadda -: Mallika Nadda is another important person in India who also praised the team’s efforts.
Muhammad Shaheer -: Muhammad Shaheer is a football player from Kerala, a state in India, who scored the most goals in the tournament.
inclusion -: Inclusion means making sure everyone, no matter their abilities, can take part in activities like sports.
