Hyderabad based Kabaddi player's outstanding performance earned her prestigious award
Mamtha Poojari
Hyderabad: Eight years ago, kabaddi player Mamtha Poojari came to Hyderabad because of an employment opportunity. On Tuesday, after being nominated for the Arjuna award, she has fallen in love all over again with the city she now calls her own. “This place has given me so much. This is my home,” the beaming office superintendent of South Central Railway told this newspaper.
Understandably, for Mamtha made huge progress after moving to Hyderabad in 2006. Apart from a handful of international medals, she has won the Asian Games gold in 2010, captained the Indian kabaddi team to the World Cup win in 2012 and now has been conferred the presitigeous national award. “I will continue to play for the Hyderabad/ Telangana teams in national level tournaments,” Mamtha vowed.
The performance of sportspersons for the four-year period from 2010 to 2013 has been considered for the recommendation of Arjuna awards. “The Arjuna award is such a huge honour. I just can’t describe how I am feeling right now,” she said. “I have won the World Cup as well as the Asian Games gold. But this is something that will stay with me. For the rest of my life I would be called an Arjuna awardee and that is truly exciting. I feel so complete.”
Mamtha has had to travel the rough road, literally, to where she is now. “I hail from a small village called Hermunde in Udipi district of Karnataka where it was not easy for girls to play. I actually started off as a volleyballer and switched to kabaddi by circumstance my school team were short of one player and drafted me in when I was in 12th standard… I must’ve been 16 then,” she recalls.
Looking back, she is thrilled with her decision. “Earlier, there were no takers. Now everybody wants to play kabaddi, especially after the Pro Kabaddi League (an IPL-style tourney in which big wigs such as Bollywood actor Abhishek Bachchan own teams),” she laughs. “I shall ever remain thankful to this sport, which has provided me my livelihood.”
Amidst the jubilation, a modest Mamtha does not forget those who helped her make it. “My parents are from an agricultural background but have supported me immensely. After I got married (to software engineer Abhishek Kotyan last year) my husband as well as my in-laws are a source of strength and encourage me to pursue my sporting career. I would also like to thank all those who have helped me emerge as a better player,” she says.Mamtha becomes the second Hyderabadi to win an Arjuna in kabaddi, after Neeta Dadwe in 1996.
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