Three deaf and dumb brothers, having taken part in around 450 meets, were part of the 'Beyond Belief' river expedition rowing all the way from Murshidabad to Kolkata, in the first such initiative in the world.
"The trio - Pinku, Subhankar and Dipankar Goldar - together fetched hundreds of medals in the over 450 international-national events. And please don't demean them as being phycially challenged. They have been regulars since 2008," Abhijit Dasgupta of Sukriti Foundation, the trigger behind the 'Beyond Belief' move, told PTI after 12 rowers were welcomed at the Man-o-War jetty here.
Asked what is his most cherished moment during swims, Pinku said through intepreter, "When we reach the camp at the end of the day."
"They are all "Pride of team mates and they are differently abled in the sense no negative thoughts can bog them down," Dasgupta said about the three playing in various possessions in Kolkata clubs as well.
"One of them was given marching orders by the referee for not responding to his words in a Kolkata league lower division match. Later on, when it emerged it was him who could neither speak nor listen, the referee said, 'Had there been rules I would have taken back my order," Dasgupta recalled.
'Beyond Belief' - aimed at dispelling misgivings about the differently abled - strived to highlight they are more determined and resolute than the others as the hundreds kilometre-long river voyage along the Bhagirathi went on, Dasgupta said on behalf of Sukriti.
"This is the seventh edition of the 'Beyond Belief', he said.
