‘An athlete with a disability is an athlete like any other.’ This is famous saying which many athletes with different kinds of disabilities use as their words of motivation and Rajashree Mohapatra is no exception as the 28-year-old from the city also feels the same.
Born with acute learning disability which prompted her to drop out of school in seventh standard, Rajashree found her love and life through sports and the daughter of a vegetable vendor is going to make her parents, state and country proud when she represents India at the seven-a-side futsal at the World Summer Games at Abu Dhabi, starting March 14.
“I am very excited about my participation in the World Summer Games. It has been dream come true for me. I will give my hundred percent there,” Rajashree said.
Rajashree was born in Bhubaneswar. Her father, Bijay Kumar Mohapatra, is a petty vegetable vendor and has struggled to provide them the facilities and comforts. However, he has made sure that his children get the education. Rajashree has two elder sisters and one younger brother. She lost her mother two years back.
Born in June 1990, Rajashree fell victim to frequent seizures during childhood. Her parents put her on Ayurvedic treatment for about 10 years which cured the fits, although leaving behind an acute learning disability. Owing to a weak memory and unsupportive school environment she was unable to complete her schooling.
She progressed through this grade also with great difficulty after coming in touch with a special school run by Open Learning System (OLS) where she started receiving vocational training from 2016.
Rajashree also participated in the recently concluded National Unified Football Tournament at the Kalinga Stadium and has fared pretty well.
“The National Unified Football Tournament for Women held at Kalinga Stadium early this month had made me more confident. I scored a hat-trick in one of the matches and that has boosted my confidence. I just want to go there and give my best for the team,” she added.
Rajashree is temperamental and aggressive and often gets cool down after talking to herself. She would get irritated with people around her, especially her family members if they gave her any advice. However, she tries to gain attention from her near and dear ones so that she doesn’t feel lonely.
As Rajashree was growing up she started becoming possessive of her belongings, keeping her room in a spic and span order. She would often be seen wearing dirty clothes because she never would like to wear new clothes ‘or else they would get dirty’.
While in OLS, Rajashree came in touch with Arpita Mohapatra, national trainer with Special Olympics-Bharat and it was she who indentified the girl’s potential in sports. Arpita along with Sarita, her Assistant, helped Rajashree explore her stamina across roller skating, cycling and football.
“Rajashree changed into a different person after being introduced to Special Olympics programs. The camps exposed her to co-athletes, and coaches who taught her social behavior,” Arpita observed.
“Sarita’s influence on her was that of a peer educator. She taught her the importance of dressing and hygiene. Sarita also honed her skills in various sports. Frequent interactions between her coaches and her father got her the required support from her family as well,” Arpita added.
Rajashree even participated at the district and state levels, reaching the Nationals before she was selected for the seven-a-side Futsal for the SO World Summer Games to be held in Abu Dhabi this year.
When asked about her preparation for the Games, Rajashree informed that she focuses on individual skills as well as plays school football matches approximately for four hours daily.
“Rajashree’s confidence seems to be growing with each passing day. She is communicating more with everyone, paying attention to the advice given by the coaches and peers. But her participation has to continue to maintain this progress, I wish her all the best in Abu Dhabi,” Special OLympics-Bharat Area Director, Prakash Rath said.