Kabbaddi star Mamatha Poojary welcomed at Mangalore Airport

Kabbaddi star Mamatha Poojary welcomed at Mangalore Airport

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Mar 11, 2012: Mamatha Poojary, the captain of the Indian Women’s Kabbaddi Team that won the World Cup at Patna, was warmly welcomed at the Mangalore Airport where she landed at 7:30 p.m. on March 11 Sunday. 

A large group of over 100 friends, family members, and well wishers had gathered at the airport to greet her. 

 

 

 

 

Speaking on the occasion, Ms. Poojary expressed her delight at having won over Iran in the World Cup final. Regarding her sports career, she said that she was interested in volleyball in her college days, but had a softer corner for kabbaddi. She promised to continue playing well for the country.
She also revealed her dreams of seeing an Indian team winning the Olympic gold although she feels that it will not be introduced before 2020. 

Complaining that village girls are not permitted to play kabbaddi, she said that she feels lucky to lead a winning team although she hails from a remote village called Yennehole near Ajekar, Karkala. 

Ms. Poojary also happens to be the member of Indian Women’s Kabbaddi Team, which won the gold at the Asian Games last year. 

She expressed her gratitude to Ramesh Suvarna, her coach, who encouraged her to play kabbaddi when she was a student at Government Junior College, Muniyal. She also expressed her gratitude to Ramakrishna Hegde, the physical director at Government Junior College Muniyal and the physical director at Gokarnanatheshwar College in Purushottam. 

Mamatha’s parents Bhoja and Kitti, her brother Vishwanatha, and her sister Madhura welcomed her at the airport. Mayor Gulzar Banu and MLA Yogish Bhat also formed part of the welcome party.