Special Olympics: India's medal winners return home amidst glitz and glory

The team arrived at Chennai Airport on Saturday. They were enthusiastically received by their family, friends and relatives. (Photo | Sunish P Surendran, EPS)

Arti Krishnamoorthy, a 29-year-old with Down's Syndrome, received a bronze medal in swimming. She is seen clicking a groupie with her physio trainers from National Down Syndrome Federation. (Photo | Sunish P Surendran, EPS)

Gokul Srinivasan, who won both a gold and a silver medal in swimming, is seen striking a pose for the shutterbugs to mark his victory. (Photo | Sunish P Surendran, EPS)

V S Abishek, who has a learning disability, won four silver medals in powerlifting at the Special Olympics. His friends and family received him at the airport with a cake to celebrate his birthday. (Photo | Sunish P Surendran, EPS)

The Indian team of 284 athletes clinched 85 gold, 154 silver and 129 bronze medals in its highly successful campaign at the prestigious event. (Photo | Sunish P Surendran, EPS)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the Indian squad for their big haul of medals at the Special Olympics World Summer Games. (Photo | Sunish P Surendran, EPS)

The special squad of Indian powerlifters bagged the maximum number of medals - 20 gold, 33 silver, and 43 bronze. (Photo | Sunish P Surendran, EPS)

In roller skating, India earned a total of 49 medals - 13 gold, 20 silver, and 16 bronze. While in cycling, the participants won 11 gold, 14 silver, and 20 bronze. In addition to this, the country's track and field athletes brought back home 39 medals - 5 gold, 24 silver and 10 bronze. (Photo | Sunish P Surendran, EPS)

More than the medals, the message from the Special Olympics was about the change in perception towards the differently-abled and their inclusion in society. “People should accept them the way they are and not the way they want them to be. They should recognise what they can do and not what they can’t do,” said Air Marshal (Retd) Denzil Keelor, Founding Trustee and CEO of Special Olympics Bharat, while hailing the success of this special team of Indian athletes. (Photo | Sunish P Surendran, EPS)