Date:16/04/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/04/16/stories/2008041655511000.htm

Karnataka

A ‘medal prospect’ from Karnataka

M.B. Girish

Neelamma Maruti Malligewad has been selected for training at Patiala

— PHOTO: M.A. SRIRAM

Neelamma Maruti Malligewad

BIDAR: Neelamma Maruti Malligewad is the only woman cyclist in the senior category from the State to train at Patiala in Punjab for selection to the national team to represent the country in the Commonwealth Games to be held in New Delhi in 2010.

Ms. Neelamma (22) settled in Bidar three years ago to receive coaching in cycling under the guidance of C.M. Kurni. At present, Ms. Neelamma is undergoing training at Patiala.

She told The Hindu over phone from Patiala on Tuesday that “she is undergoing vigorous training under a foreign coach and the daily training session is held for two to three hours.” The coaching camp began on March 26.

Exuding confidence, Ms. Neelamma said her coach has expressed satisfaction with her timing. “I am confident of making it into the national team and winning a medal will give me a break to shine on the international scene.”

“The coach after analysing trainees has said that girls have more chances of winning medals for the country than men,” she said.

Ms. Neelamma was six years of age when she took to cycling. At that time, a cycling competition was organised in her native village Neelgunda and she participated in it.

She then made up her mind to make a career out of cycling. Her next stop was Bijapur where she came in touch with Mr. Kurni, who had coached a national team, to get training in cycling.

Attributing her success in cycling to Mr. Kurni, Ms. Neelamma said, “I had decided to quit cycling after Mr. Kurni was transferred to Bidar from Bijapur in 2005 but the coach asked me to join him at Bidar.”

On Mr. Kurni’s training methods, she said, “Training was hard and that made her achieve perfection.”

Ms. Neelamma has participated in various cycling competitions in Rajasthan, Ludhiana, Bhopal and Kerala.

A constable at Ron of Gadag, she has won the Ekalavyya, the Kittur Rani Chennamma and the Rajyotsava awards.

Showering praises on Ms. Neelamma, Mr. Kurni expressed that she was a “medal prospect” in the Commonwealth Games and her hard work would yield positive results.

Mr. Kurni said, “She has been in good form and we have high hopes on her.”