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Playing kabaddi off the field
The Season 5 Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) that got off to a rousing start a couple of days ago may not have a single player representing the two Telugu-speaking States – Andhra Pradesh and Telangana where kabaddi is official sport – but has former national player Madhavi Bandari of Hyderabad, however, playing off the field unfolding the high-voltage action in the arena through her running commentary.
Hyderabad: The Season 5 Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) that got off to a rousing start a couple of days ago may not have a single player representing the two Telugu-speaking States – Andhra Pradesh and Telangana where kabaddi is official sport – but has former national player Madhavi Bandari of Hyderabad, however, playing off the field unfolding the high-voltage action in the arena through her running commentary.
Though the 46-year-old Madhavi is working with Raghunathapuram ZP High School in Yadadri district as a physical education teacher, it did not stop the mother of two getting behind the microphone to give insights of the sport, which she feels it as her love and life.
Madhavi, who did her schooling in Bibinagar (erstwhile Nalgonda district) and Wesley School at Tarnaka, is an alumnus of Osmania University. Later, she acquired a diploma in sports coaching from the National Institute of Coaching in Bengaluru. Right now, she is pursuing her Ph.D. (physical education) in Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University.
She was approached by the country's leading broadcaster, Star India, after the stupendous success of the first edition of the PKL in 2014. The broadcaster, in a bid to reach out the Telugu audience, roped in Madhavi as Telugu commentator after they satisfied with the immense knowledge and good command over the language she possessed. Since Season 2 to till date, she never looked back as she continued to be part of panel of commentators.
Speaking to The Hans India from Star Studios in Mumbai, Madhavi said: “It was a godsend opportunity. Initially, I had to work with the organisers to set the kabaddi lingo that differs from place to place. The game underwent a huge transformation since the Pro Kabaddi was promoted by Mashal Sports Private Limited headed by its co-founder and renowned sports commentator and quizmaster Charu Sharma.”
Madhavi expressed her disappointment for not having even a single player in the ongoing Season 5 from AP and Telangana. She thanked her husband Madhusudan Rao, an Osmania University employee, daughter Rushali and son Yashwanth for their support.
A former PKL player, who prefers to be anonymous, said: “Season 5 has 12 teams unlike eight in the previous editions, despite this none of the franchisers came forward to pick at least one Telugu player though we have Telugu Titans in the league.
It may be noted here that players like Srikrishna (Chirala), Gangadhari Mallesh (Karimnagar) and Tole Prasad (Khammam) who represented in the PKL didn’t get much opportunity to prove their mettle.
