Gujarat girl returns to a rousing welcome from South Korea
Vishnu Chaudhary, the project co-ordinator at Khodiyar Education Trust where she was enrolled, told PTI that it was a special moment for Maya, her family and her community members.
Tears of happiness flowed down the eyes of Kamu Devipujak, after her daughter Maya returned home with a gold medal in the Floor Hockey event at the Special Olympics World Winter Games held in South Korea.
"My daughter has made our entire community proud. I can't even believe this," said her mother Kamu Devipujak.
Maya's father suffers from a mental disorder and is unable to go to work. Her mother runs the home by selling vegetables. The family lives in a slum near Mehsana railway station.
The entire Devipujak community, president of Gujarat's Devipujak community and her neighbours garlanded her, distributing sweets to celebrate her success, followed by a victory procession to the beats of drums and music.
"It was a very good experience. I didn't understand their language. It was very cold. It was snowing. I changed my aircraft four times," Maya said.
Vishnu Chaudhary, the project co-ordinator at Khodiyar Education Trust where she was enrolled, told PTI that it was a special moment for Maya, her family and her community members.
"Maya has delivered at the international level, against the best," he said.
"It was a dream come true when she was selected in the team. But to come back with a gold medal is something beyond everybody's dreams," he added.