Patna: Differently abled sportspersons from Bihar have bagged 16 medals, including eight gold, at Khelo India, a joint initiative by the Union ministry of youth affairs and Special Olympics, Bharat.

The tournament held in Gujarat's Gandhinagar ended on July 9 and the triumphant Bihar contingent returned to Patna on Friday.

The team has won eight gold, three silver and five bronze medals.

Mansi Kumar has bagged two gold medals in 50m run and softball throw, Gajendra Kumar has won a silver medal in shot put, and Neha Kumari and Amisha Prakash have won silver medals in badminton.

Patna girls Mansi, 20, and Amisha, 16, started their journey in sports with the help of Child Concern, Samarpan and Special Olympics, Bihar. "Both of them come from different backgrounds. While Mansi's father is an engineer with the government, Amisha's father earns a meagre income in a private job. We had to try hard to convince their parents to enrol them in sports. All that has paid off," said Santosh Kumar, an official of Special Olympics, Bihar.

Avinash Kumar Abhi has also won two bronze medals in 50m and softball throw; Kumar Alisha two bronze in 50m and softball throw. Six sportspersons have received gold in unified football that comprised differently-abled and other sportspersons.

"Special children and those whose IQ level is below 70 per cent participated in the event," said Sandeep Kumar, who headed the delegate of 23 sportspersons to Gujarat. "Participation was itself an achievement for the sportspersons because they had to pass two hurdles before this. Only those who passed in the district and state competitions were given the chance to participate. This event brought out talents hidden in the remotest districts."

Sandeep said the minimum age for participation was eight years with the upper limit.

Some of the differently abled sportspersons, who have done well in Khelo India, have participated in international events earlier as well. Sandeep said: "Mansi Kumari had earlier won two gold medals in the 2015 World Summer Games in the US while Avinash Kumar also participated in the 2015 Games. So if these sportspersons are given constant motivation, sky is the limit for them.

"Vikas Kumar and Satyam Sushil have been selected for the World Summer Games 2019 to be held in Abu Dhabi," he added.