I was born and brought up in Ambasamudram in Tirunelveli. I fought with my father and came to Chennai in 1960 to become a basketball coach. My father was against sports but I was determined.
My friends and I used to go to the city to practice basketball, as there was nobody to teach us. My dream was to become a basketball coach and to instil the importance of sports in the minds of youngsters in the city.
My first job as a coach was in the corporation school of Nungambakkam. Initially, I faced resistance but slowly they warmed up to me and then to the game. I used to go to their houses with loaves of bread and eggs to encourage them to start playing. It worked and the children started showing interest in the game.
Chennai is the best place to live in. It is very accommodating when it comes to sports. When compared to other cities, we understand the importance of sports. The city has also given me a strong and good platform to grow as a coach and a referee. The Jayalalitha stadium is my favourite sporting venue.
To help in the proper mental and physical development of our youngsters, sports as a subject should be made compulsory in schools and colleges. Eight hours of studies and eight hours of sports is the mantra for me. And more effort should be made to bolster up girl’s participation in sports. I give free coaching to the girls of Ashok Pillar government school. With the amount I earn from refereeing, I buy shoes, balls and tracksuits for them.
I am 80 years old but I have no plans to stop coaching or being a referee. After all, I am married to basketball.