Udupi: Sunitha Lobo  of Manasa Rehabilitation and Training Centre at Pamboor  who is a gold medal winner in the floor hockey event at the Special Olympics World Winter Games held in Pyeongchang, South Korea at the  district, arrived in her hometown to a grand welcome on February 9, Saturday.

When Sunitha arrived at Katapady bus stand, several leaders and students had gathered to accord her a grand welcome.Udupi Zilla panchayat president Upendra Nayak, Zilla Panchayat members Ida Gibba D’Souza, Githanjali Suvarna, former Taluk Panchayath President Devadas Hebbar, Nagarika Samiti Secretary Nityananda Olakadu and others were present.

Sunitha was taken in a procession which was participated by several students and members of the general public. On arrival at Manasa Centre,  Sunitha was felicitated at a function arranged there. Pamboor Holy Cross Church Parish Priest Fr Charles Lewis felicitated  her on the occasion. Kaup MLA Lalaji R Mendon inaugurated the felicitation programme.

Sunitha who spoke on the occasion said her 11 member team could fare extremely well despite the adverse weather conditions. Mansa center Trustee Remidiya D’Souza, former minister Vasanth V Salian, All India Christian Union Karnataka state president Elroy Kiran Crasto, entrepreneur Rocky D’Silva, Catholic Sabha Udupi President William Machado, Principal of Manasa Rehabilitation and Training Centre Sr Thelma and others were present.