: “I have never been active in sports before. Forget sports, I have not even gone for a morning walk or jogging,” says 61-year-old Lovely from Peringottukara.
She was one of the members of the Perigottukara team that won the trophy at the volleyball match organised by the Gargi Women’s Collective in association with the District Sports Council here on International Women’s Day on Sunday.
“I brought up my children and did all the household work, but nobody appreciated my effort. This is the first honour I received in my life,” said Lovely, holding the medal she won.
Peringottukara team won the trophy after a tight competition with the Kerala Police Academy team at the District Sports Council ground on Sunday.
“It’s definitely an inspiration for all of us. The message is ‘it’s never too late’, said 48-year-old Valsala Sukumaran, who came to watch the match.
When Vinaya, a civil police officer at the Kerala Police Academy, spoke about organising a match for women, many were apprehensive.
But the turnout and the enthusiasm shown by the players was encouraging.
“Many of the members in our teams are homemakers. The game has changed their approach towards life. They have become stronger and more confident,” said Vinaya.
“We are in a dream world now. We never thought about such a game even in our wildest dream. We can’t express our satisfaction in words. It rejuvenated us mentally and physically,” said Shara Rani, player of the Kerala Police Academy team.
Though 20 teams were trained, only eight participated in the match. Earlier the teams took out a procession in the city.
Addressing a function organised by the Kerala Vikas Kendra as part of International Women’s Day celebration, former Sri Lankan minister Ali Shihabdeen Ameer said women should achieve improvement in socio-economic fields.
Kerala Social Welfare State coordination member Kareem Pannithadam presided over the event.
