City’s Deaflympics athletes get surprise welcome after win

However, when Prithvi, and three other athletes from the state who represented the country stepped out of the airport at around 11.30 pm on Tuesday, they received a hero’s welcome from over 50 strangers who were waiting for them. 

Prithvi Sekhar and Jafreen Shaik (from Hyderabad) won the bronze in men’s doubles tennis.  “It was such a pleasant surprise. I was looking forward to meet my parents, but then there were these people cheering for us,” texted 23-year-old Prithvi in a WhatsApp  conversation. The reception was planned D4V Direction4Volunteers, a volunteers’ organisation. 

“I received a call from a friend of mine sometime on Tuesday evening, who bemoaned the fact that the athletes who made India proud, did not receive the welcome they deserved in Delhi,” says Ashok AJ, member of the group. He also mentioned about Prithvi, who won a bronze medal. 

“We have a network of volunteers and we decided to do our bit. We created a social media poster, inviting people to welcome the athletes, and shared it on all platforms. We also created a WhatsApp group for it and asked people to gather at the airport,” he adds.  

He further added that sportsmen and women who won medals at the Olympics and Paralympics were celebrated across the country. They should get their due as they had to cross several challenged to win medals for the country. The families of these players too were emotional about the gesture. Jaya Ratchagan, father of Jerlin Anika, who participated in badminton, says, “It was very encouraging to see so many supporters at the airport and it was very touching.” 

In fact, the Indian contingent comprising 46 athletes, even protested at the Delhi airport, when they did not get the reception they expected. However, Chennaiites did not disappoint their players, although many noticed that no one from the government  was present.