Mysuru: In a remarkable achievement, three young women — Chaitra, Monika, and Nisarga — from Kuruburu village, situated 37km from Mysuru city, earned spots as probables in the Indian kho kho team. They will potentially compete in the upcoming Kho Kho World Cup, scheduled in Delhi next month. These athletes, whose fathers work as farmers, received training from K Manjunath, a subject teacher at Vidyadarshini Convent School in Kuruburu. Their success brought national recognition to Kuruburu village.
These athletes have shown exceptional skill despite training limitations. They currently practise on a mud court in Mysuru, while official competitions use mat courts. The transition between these surfaces presents significant challenges.
Chaithra, aged 22, is a second-year BPED student at Sri Shanbhulingeshwara College of Physical Education in Pandavapura and competed for Karnataka over 30 times. She said: "I am really happy to be selected as probable, and I hope to represent the country in this world cup, which is being held for the first time. My brother, Chetan, was my inspiration. I started playing kho kho after watching him, and it was Manjunath sir who taught us the game. Today, we are here because of his guidance."
Regarding facilities, Chaithra noted, "While practising on mud courts, we need several days to adjust when we switch to mat courts for matches. We need a good mat court in Kuruburu to help our players perform better. I request govt or philanthropists to provide us with the necessary facilities."
Monika, 21, a first-year BPED student from the same institution, and Nisarga, 19, pursuing second-year BA at PRM College in T Narasipur, aim to represent India and honour their families, coach, and institution. Both participated in national competitions over 20 times.
K Manjunath, who teaches at Vidyadarshini Convent, devotes his spare time to coach these athletes. "I recognised their agility when they were in fourth and sixth grade, and encouraged them to start playing kho kho. These girls are not only talented in the sport, but also excel academically. Their dedication, devotion, and determination led them to this point, and they all have bright futures ahead. However, training on mud courts and competing on mat courts presents challenges. If Kuruburu had a proper mat court, these players could deliver even better performances. I appeal to govt or philanthropists to sponsor the construction of a mat court and install floodlights," he said.
C Krishna, who heads the Mysuru District Kho-Kho Association, acknowledged Kuruburu village's sporting prowess, stating, "There is no doubt that Kuruburu produces a lot of talent. However, playing on mud courts versus mat courts makes a significant difference. We will bring this issue to the attention of the district administration, including the district minister, and speak to the state association. Our goal is to ensure the best possible facilities for these promising players. We are extremely proud of their accomplishments."