Mamata Poojary... We salute you.

In the world that Mamata Poojary grew up, there are no second chances.

Before the talent spotters discovered her, she lived with her parents in a remote hamlet in Dakshina Kannada district where they had no electricity, where two decent meals a day was a luxury, and where even now no vehicle can drive up to her doorstep because there are no motorable roads.

Her parents are coolies, her brother works in a garage. Mamata had to trudge five to six kilometres to school every day. The fish that she or her brother caught in the roiling stream near their home was the only ‘delicacy’ her family could afford. Fish, fried or pickled, incidentally remains her favourite dish.

One Friday, India beat Thailand 28-14 at Guangzhou to win the gold medal in women’s kabaddi and Mamata was adjudged Best Raider of the Asian Games.

It is the well-deserved reward for the backcountry lass who had nothing but her lithe 5-foot-11-inch frame and a survival ethic that forced her to optimise every sliver of opportunity that came her way.

In Dakshina Kannada where Mamata grew up, ever since the news filtered in, they have been chanting kabaddi, kabaddi, kabaddi, kabaddi... or is that Mamata Mamata..? She was first spotted during a game at Gadag in 2001. She was studying at the Government PU College in Muniyal, Karkala taluk of Udupi, and when Purushotham Poojary, president of the DK Kabaddi Association and physical director at the Sri Gokarnatheshwara College in Mangalore, saw her he knew right away that here was a champion in the making.

Poojary said, “Mamata was the only player in the Udupi team who was actually playing. I spoke to the coach who said she was a brilliant player but came from a financially backward family and that she was willing to come to Mangalore if you are willing to coach her.”

Much of the current jubilation is at the DK district Kabaddi Association where Mamata first honed her skills. Despite being poor, her parents never dissuaded her from sports. “She was very hardworking and understood her family problems. She never allowed anyone to get to know of her difficulties,” Poojary added.

When she first came to Mangalore, Mamata stayed at a hostel run by the then president of the association for six months before getting admission to the Backward Community Hostel. During her three years at the Sri Gokarnatheshwara College, she represented the University at various national level competitions.

Poojary had insisted that she stay focussed on kabaddi rather than participating in all games as was the norm in other colleges. “She had disagreed several times back then,” he recalls, “but it has paid off.”

The turning point came during an All India Invitation Match in Mumbai where she represented the association. The team reached the semifinals and she was adjudged the best raider, said Poojary.

Dhanam Reddy from the Southern Railways asked Mamata if she would play for their team and offered her a job in Andhra Pradesh. But Mamata was then in the final year of her BA course and unwilling to give up her studies.

“I told her that she could complete her education later but needed to take up the job. She did, but returned last year to clear her exams,” Poojary said. Mamata’s economics lecturer, Chandra K, was also all praise for her discipline and determination.
“Despite her job coming in the way, she returned after a gap of two years and cleared all the papers,” he said. “Before leaving for the Asian Games, she had come to seek our blessings,” says Poojary.

Courtesy: Bangalore Mirror.
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