Bhanga represented India at the Olympic-style athletic event, in which over 20,000 active and retired fire and police personnel from over 70 countries participated. Bhanga struck gold in the 100-m and 200-m dash. She also bagged gold in the relay race.
The villagers in Buthebunder in Utan, who were celebrating Mother Mary's birthday on Thursday, danced and sang as Bhanga arrived home with her medals. Bhanga's parents, Nazareth and Blossy, joined the villagers in the festivities.
Bhanga took a victory lap around her village, thanking the villagers for their prayers and
wishes. She later took time to pray at the local Ganeshotsav mandal and the church.
Bhanga dedicated the gold medals she won to the three senior officers, Hemant Karkare, Ashok Kamte and Vijay Salaskar, who lost their lives in the 26/11 terror attacks. "I visited the 9/11 World Trade Centre spot in New York
and made up my mind to dedicate my medals to the officers who lost their lives in Mumbai," said Bhanga.
Athletics had always been Bhanga's first love, but she could not pursue her dreams due to financial constraints. It was only after she joined the Maharashtra police in 2006 that she began focusing on her running skills. Her confidence was boosted after winning gold at the 58th All India Police Athletic Meet held in Thiruvananthapuram last year.
Mumbai: Hema Bhanga (30), the Government Railway Police (GRP) assistant police inspector who won three gold medals at the recently concluded World Fire and Police Games, 2011 at New York received a grand welcome at her village in Utan, Bhayander on Thursday afternoon.
Hema was India's section for the Olympic style athletic event that concluded on Sunday. Over 20,000 active and retired fire and police personnel's from around 70 countries participated in the event. Bhanga struck gold in the 100m and 200m run. She also bagged gold in the relay run.
The villagers in Buthebunder in Utan, who was celebrating the birthday of Mother Mary on Thursday, broke into dance and songs as Hema arrived in the village donning her medals. Her parents Nazareth and Blossy joined the villagers in the celebration.
Th roads were choc-o-bloc with villagers as Hema took a victory rally on foot, thanking the villagers for their prayers and wishes. Hema prayed at the local Ganeshotsav mandal and the church.
She dedicated the gold medals to the three senior officers Hemant Karkare, Ashok Kamte and Vijay Salaskar, who lost their lives in the 26/11 terror attack on Hotel Taj. "I visited the 9/11 World Trade Centre spot and had made up my mind to dedicate my medals to the officers who lost their lives back in Mumbai," said Hema, who works at the Bandra railway station.
Athletics was always Hema's first love but she could not pursue her dreams due to financial constraints. It was only after she joined the Maharashtra police in 2006 that she began focusing on her running skills. Her confidence was boosted after winning gold at the 58th All-India Police Athletic Meet held at Thiruvanthapuram last year.
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