Guwahati, July 11: Her battle is not just with poverty. It is also with discrimination and social stigma for being physically challenged.

A farmer’s daughter from Panigaon in Lakhimpur district of Assam, 16-year-old Mamoni Das has worked her way against all odds to earn two gold medals in skating at the World Summer Games of Special Olympics, 2011. She is the only medal winner from the Special Olympics Bharat, Assam.

Mamoni suffers from speech and hearing disabilities. The youngest of four siblings, she has been attending a special school for the disabled in her hometown.

Mamoni’s feat is all the more creditworthy because she practised on the school’s balcony. The state does not have any skating rink.

Speaking for Mamoni, her headmistress, Anima Gogoi, said she wishes to skate till she turns 28. “Her dream is to pursue a career in roller skating, earn more medals and make her parents proud,” she said.

Roller skating, which is not very popular in this part of the region, is not a sport affordable for all with the cost of a specialised pair of skating boots starting from Rs 20,000. Also required are a helmet, and knee and elbow guards.

It was only six months back that Mamoni made a mark as a skater. Till then, she had attracted attention as a badminton player. She even managed to bag a gold and a silver medal in the National Games of Special Olympics, 2010.

She had taken part in the selection camp for World Summer Games, 2011 where the gold medallist proved her skills in roller skating.

Getting selected amongst 2,000 skaters, who participated in the selection camp this year, she went ahead to prove her mettle at the summer games.

When asked about her experience in Athens, Gogoi said, “She did not like the food at all. Apart from that, she says she had fun.”

After getting shortlisted for skating, Mamoni’s rigorous training for the games began. Her headmistress, Gogoi, arranged for her boots.

Gogoi and coach Prasanta Barik used to monitor her practice sessions, which used to start from 4am.

Anjana Goswami, area director of Special Olympics Bharat, Assam chapter, has plans for this little bright star of Assam.