Sports and Games

Much importance is given to sports and games. MCDS makes sure that our children never miss out on any opportunity to participate in competitions at all levels. This large base has resulted in producing a pyramid of Chennai city, state, national and even an international athlete, Miss . Malathy Joseph.

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FROM DOOMING KUPPAM TO IRELAND’S BASKETBALL COURTS: MALATHY JOSEPH

Residing at Dooming Kuppam, Santhome Coastal Slums. She stays at her ram shackled home, A hut in the slums with her mother and brother, a painter, the only bread-winner of the family, after their Dad expired some years ago.

Malathy is hearing impaired, partially blind and has a mental retardation. Yet, she is special, special in more ways than one. As we are preparing this article, Malathy is participating at the ‘Special Olympics’ in far away-Ireland, with her team mates and coaches. Her specialty-individual event in basketball. Rated among the best in her category, Malathy is a medal prospect. Medal or no medal, the fact that a multi-disabled girl from a poor family in the slums of Chennai has made it to the international arena is reason enough for all of us to be proud of Malathy.

MCDS organized a public function at the coastal slums to felicitate Malathy and wish her bon voyage. Participating in this function were Mr. W.I. Devaram, IPS (Retd.) Former Director General of Tamilnadu Police and Vice Chairman of the Tamilnadu Sports Council; Mr. Nagarajan, Director, Special Olympics Barath and Mr. Vincent D’Souza , Editor , Adayar and Mylapore Times and hundreds of friends and well-wishers from the neighborhood.

This public function was an opportunity not only to felicitate Malathy but also to enlighten the large gathering on the abilities of the so-called disabled. This was timely particularly since MCDS manages three centers for a large number of children with disabilities. This, one would think, is CBR at its best.


Source: MCDS Newsletter Issue 4

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2003 SPECIAL OLYMPICS WORLD SUMMER GAMES, DUBLIN, IRELAND. 

An Indian delegation consisting of 81 athletes with an intellectual disability, 20 coaches and 2 heads of delegation enjoyed the privilege of being part of the 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games at Dublin, Ireland.

The Indian delegation won many laurels and hearts during the Games. Behind their remarkable achievement lies the effort of dedicated coaches, volunteers and staff.

India participated in Athletics, Badminton, Basket Ball, Bocce, Cycling, Football, Volley Ball,
Basket Ball. Our Basket Ball player Miss. Malathy from Montfort Community Development Society was the darling of every volunteer. She won a Silver Medal.

As predicted Malathy returned with a silver medal in her category of disability.

A student of CBR programme of MCDS, Malathy hails from poor family in the Santhome coastal slums. She has problems with sight and hearing and has a mental retardation.

A couple of weeks after the team returned to India, the Hon’ble Prime Minister and His Excellency The President felicitated them. Mr.Ram Naick, Minister for Petroleum and Chemicals hosted a reception during which cash awards to the tune of Rs.1,00,000/- for Gold, Rs.50,000/- for Silver and Rs.25,000/-for Bronze was distributed. This meant a great deal for Malathy’s family. This amount, deposited with post office savings scheme, means a steady income, however small, for the family.

Montfort Community Development Society (MCDS) registers its appreciation of Mr. M.S. Nagarajan, National Director for Sports, Special Olympics Bharat, and his collaborators for their service to the Special Olympics movement. 

Source: MCDS Newsletter Issue 5