MP Radha Mohan Singh felicitates Smita Kumari in Motihari. Picture by Ajit Kumar Verma

Motihari, Jan. 28: Smita Kumari, who represented India in women’s kabaddi at the 2010 Asian Games in China, was felicitated at a function here.

Smita (26) played a crucial role in several matches, especially in the semi-final round against Iran, and helped India clinch the gold medal in women’s kabaddi that was included for the first time in the quadrennial event.

Smita was an especially invitee at the Mahatma Gandhi Boys and Girls State-level kabaddi Championship organised between January 24 and 26.

Motihari MP and former BJP MLA Radha Mohan Singh felicitated Smita at the Rajendra Nagar Bhavan Ground on Tuesday.

Smita belongs to Mokama village but was brought up in Marachhi village near Patna.

Smita told The Telegraph she was interested in kabaddi from a very young age. She started playing the game at local level when she was in Class VI.

“I could just not control my emotions when I was selected to play at the sub-junior level kabaddi tournament in 1997,” she said.

“The turning point in my life came in 1998, when I got my first opportunity to play in the national tournament at Beed in Maharashtra at the age of 14,” she said, adding she has participated in 14 National Games ever since.

Speaking about her present job in the railways, she said the Indian Railways gave her a job in Grade C that has enabled her to stand on her own feet.

The rising Kabaddi player told The Telegraph she was fortunate and felt proud to represent India and Bihar in the 2010 Asian Games in China.

“After coming back to India with a gold medal, I received a cash award of Rs 10 lakh from the President and Rs 15 lakh from railway minister Mamata Banerjee,” she said.