I owe this success to my parents (Bhoja Poojary and Kitti) and my brother (Vishwanath). But for their sacrifices, I would have never played kabaddi,” a modest Mamata Poojary, captain of the national kabaddi team, admits in a voice choked with emotion. The 27-year-old in a sense epitomises modern India. Hailing from a small village, Yennehole, near Ajekar in Karkala taluk of Udupi district, Karnataka, she is fully conscious of her humble background in her finest hour—she has led the women’s kabaddi team to the World Cup glory, no less.
Recalling her early days, she explains, “Karkala is a quiet place but the most interesting aspect is that people keep abreast of the latest developments in modern India. Sports, particularly cricket, are keenly followed. But we get big crowds whenever kabaddi matches are held.”
Her father has a small piece of land where he grows paddy and maize. “He toils day and night for the family. But the yield is not sufficient for the family to live,” Mamata confesses. But Bhoja has ensured that his three children Vishwanath, Mamata and Madhura received good education, even if it’s in government schools and colleges. “My father was keen that we get education. At times, it was difficult to bear the expenses,” recollects Mamata. As the years rolled on, notwithstanding Bhoja’s desire, education became too much of a burden for the family and Vishwanath had to discontinue his studies.
“We were not in a good shape financially. He dropped out after Class X and it was his own decision,” Mamata says. Today, Viswanath works at a garage to support the family. “He told us that we should not discontinue our studies at any cost,” adds Mamata with obvious pride.
Given such a family, it is no wonder that Mamata persevered and found her calling in sports. “We would watch local sports and those days, I was interested in athletics and volleyball. There were reasons for it. I was lanky,” she says. After managing good marks in Class X, she enrolled in Gokarnanatheswara College. It was here that she began taking part in athletics and was selected for volleyball tournaments. Because of her height, she excelled in high jump and was good at volleyball. She was even selected for the state team in national athletics and volleyball championship.
Fortune favours the brave and Mamata’s picked up when Ramakrishna Hegde spotted her in her town. “When he first asked whether I was interested in kabaddi, I was surprised. He said I could become a good raider if I played kabaddi. I was reluctant initially. Later I thought, ‘why not?’ Kabaddi is after all one of the most popular games in the country. My father agreed too. It was a decision which I think changed my career,” Mamata recalls.
While pursuing sports, Mamata graduated from college. She soon learnt the art of a raider and became a state-level player. More laurels awaited Mamata, and during the all-India tournament while she was representing Mangalore, she was spotted by the South Central Railway (SCR) coach Dhanam Reddy. “I thought this girl had an extraordinary talent, especially the way she raided the opposition citadel. She was fast and intelligent. I immediately decided to take her into my team,” says Reddy.
Mamata’s second journey began in SCR from 2006. She shifted from Karnataka to Hyderabad. “I think my career changed for good and more so, it came as a big relief to my family. This new opportunity helped my family to live more happily and with better facilities. My brother too prospered and he opened his own garage,” says Mamata.
Mamata’s excellent performances in the national championship earned her the Indian cap. The last two years gave a new high to her. A gold medal at the 2010 Asian Games, and now the World Cup has cemented her place in the national sports history. She was rewarded in a big way after her success in the Asian Games and World Cup triumph will now give her a bounty. “Yes, kabaddi can make you a star. At Patna, when we played the world championship, there were 40,000 crowd watching our outdoor match. It was unbelievable. There were 10 big screens outside the indoor stadium once the matches were shifted inside,” says Mamata.
When Mamata returned home, there was a rousing reception in Mangalore. “Yes, kabaddi is here to stay in the country and spread to other countries,” says Mamata.
