Kalawati’s Kabaddi journey from school captain to Asiad Games

Mahendranagar: At the age of 19, Kalawati Panta, hailing from Pariphanta in Shuklaphanta Municipality-8, Kanchanpur district, embarked on her journey into the world of kabaddi when she was a ninth-grader at the local Dharma Janata Secondary School. Ganesh Dhami, the school’s sports teacher, served as her mentor and encouraged Kalawati to pursue kabaddi as her profession. Within three years of taking up kabaddi at school, Kalawati had already risen to prominence in the sport.

She played a pivotal role in the Nepali Women’s Kabaddi team during the recent Asian Games held in China, where the team secured a bronze medal. Out of the 12 players on the team, seven were from the Sudurpaschim province. In contrast, all other players, except for Kalawati, represented different departmental teams back home. She was the lone player selected from the Sudurpaschim province to participate in the Asian Games.

Kalawati shared her perspective, saying, “Players affiliated with departmental teams receive regular training and various facilities. However, for me, it is an exceptional achievement to have the opportunity to play in the Asian Games while simultaneously pursuing my college studies and managing household responsibilities.”

During her time in school, Kalawati served as the captain of the girls’ kabaddi team and took part in numerous school-level competitions, where her team often emerged victorious. Her debut in national competition occurred in Janakpur a few years ago, and she also led the Sudurpaschim women’s kabaddi team in the Ninth National Games held in Pokhara.

Currently pursuing her Bachelor’s degree, Kalawati expressed her desire to continue her sporting career by joining a departmental team while also working for one of the country’s three security forces: Nepal Police, the Armed Police Force Nepal, or the Nepali Army. These sports clubs associated with the security agencies are referred to as departmental teams.

Reflecting on the recent Asian Games in China, Kalawati said, “It has shown us that significant progress in sports is possible when the government invests in it and provides consistent training to athletes.”

Before participating in the Ninth National Games, Kalawati underwent a three-month intensive training program at the Kabaddi Training Centre in Mahendranagar.

Hailing from a modest-income family, Kalawati’s father, Bikram Panta, serves as the sole breadwinner for his family, working as a daily wage laborer in India. As the youngest of three sisters among five siblings, Kalawati emphasized the importance of the government’s support for talented players from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.