Panaji: In the end, it all came down to penalties.The Best of You-Special Olympics Goa squad had done well to put it across Club Brugge Foundation (Belgium) 3-2 on penalties in the semifinals at the Genuine Cup in Houston. An Indian team was taking part for the first time at the one-of-a-kind global tournament that celebrates athletes with intellectual and developmental disabilities. But despite the lack of experience, the team did well to go far, only losing to Seleccion Chilena de Futbol Adaptada (Chile) 2-1 on penalties in the final.“It was a tough game against Chile,” said head of delegation and Special Olympics Goa CEO Victor Vaz. “Our boys gave everything on the field and performed beyond expectations. After an incredible fight (during regulation time), the match went to penalties. We did not take home the trophy, but we took home something bigger: Respect, pride, and inspiration.Hosted by the Genuine Foundation, the Genuine Cup is part of a broader effort to expand inclusion through sport, advocacy, and opportunity. More than 1000 athletes with intellectual disabilities and autism, representing 50 teams from 50 countries, came together for a week of competition, connection, and community.After the initial rounds of matches drawn on lots, the teams were divided into seven groups based on their abilities.BOYSOG had five players from Goa, while the rest comprised of Indian origin players based in US. Initially, 30 attended trials and 14 were shortlisted for the assignment in the United States. They trained in Panaji for almost a year, continued sessions at home when there was uncertainty. But more than half of them were either refused visas or did not obtain an appointment for visa on time.The lack of understanding between players showed on the field in the first few games. BOYSOG lost the first two matches: a 2-0 defeat against Special Olympics Latvia and 2-1 against Ajax Only Friends (Netherlands). Then, as the players understood their teammates, and the 8-a-side format, better, results started to show with wins against Ukraine Special Olympics (2-0), Municipal Guatemala (2-0) and Slovak CP Association (1-0).In the group quarterfinals, BOYSOG edged out Estonia 2-0 and then Club Brugge 3-2 on penalties, after being tied 1-1, at the end of a fiercely-fought semifinal.“The Genuine Cup was a great experience for our special athletes,” said Vaz, former national sports director of Special Olympics Bharat and a key figure in the development of special athletes across the country. “They experienced more than a tournament; for them, it was joy, confidence, and a sense of belonging. We got great support. From the arrival to the closing ceremony, every athlete was treated with dignity and respect.“The athletes enjoyed making friends from other countries. What stood out most was the happiness on their faces as they high-fived after every match, took photos with new friends and enjoyed moments on the podium. They didn’t just play but inspired everyone around them. The Genuine Cup gave our special athletes a stage to shine, friends to cherish, and memories they will talk about for years to come.”
