Arjuna award is boost for women kabaddi: Mamata Poojary

 

12 Aug 2014: For someone who comes from a family that has no one even remotely connected to sports of any kind, Mamata Poojary comes across as a rare individual.

 

That she has cornered in a rugged sport, in which she has won several honours for India, is an indication that she has a natural flair for kabaddi, which she has specialized in.

 

For all her achievements, Mamata remains down-to-earth. It is perhaps keeping in tune with the low-profile nature that is generally maintained by kabaddi players of every hue.

 

 

Meeting her today was a different experience because she was jubilant and ’short on words.’

 

’The Arjuna honour comes at the most opportune time and indicates recognition of my talent,’ says the star rider, who has been the backbone to the fortunes of India and South Central Railway (SCR) where she has been employed for the past ten years and has brought her to Hyderabad.

 

The Udupi native belonging to an agricultural family has been a star performer for the kabaddi teams she has represented with aplomb.

 

’Actually, excelling in sports has been the driving force since my childhood.

 

In my school days, I was active in various competitive disciplines, including volleyball, javelin, short-put and kabaddi. Representing Mangalore University in the inter-varsity kabaddi tournament and winning the championship was the turning point as by then I firmed up my decision to stick to kabaddi.

 

Today, I have no regrets, whatsoever. I am happy that globally the sport has been getting popular with Pro-Kabaddi League and World Kabaddi League. I am hopeful that women championships of similar magnitude will be organised soon.’

 

In 2006 she won gold with the Indian women team that clinched the title in the South Asia Games at Colombo. Bigger achievements came when she emerged as the golden girl in the inaugural Asian Beach Sports Kabaddi at Bali, in the second Asian women championship at Tehran and the third in Chennai.

 

 

The prized catch has been the golden run in the Asian Games at Guangzhou.

 

’I am thankful to my coach at SCR, Dhanam Reddy, whose passion and dedication have shaped my career (like it has for others) to the levels it has reached. I owe a lot to K Jagdeshwar Yadav (Secretary-General of Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India) for being an active promoter of the sport and encouraging us always,’ she says by way of thanksgiving.

 

Jagadishwer Yadav said, ’Mamata is an asset to any team she plays for. She is truly deserving of the honour. I hope to see her scale dizzier heights in the future.’