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MEDAL WINNERS FROM INDIA

YB WEB DESK. Dated: 8/5/2020 9:29:41 AM

Abhilasha Mhatre

Abhilasha Mhatre is an Indian professional kabaddi player and was the Captain of Indian National Women's Kabaddi Team. She has won the prestigious Arjuna Award of Government of India in 2015. Known for her elegant footwork she is regarded as one of the finest kabaddi players in India. She is fondly referred as "Queen of Kabaddi". She was a member of the Indian kabaddi team that won the gold medal at the Asian Games in 2014 in Incheon. She was also the member of Indian team that won the Kabaddi World Cup in 2012 in Patna, India. Early career Abhilasha studied at Swami Muktanand High School in Mumbai. She was in seventh grade when she started playing for the Chembur Krida Kendra club. Their practice ground was her school ground. Many renowned senior players of her club used to practice there, so she got to see big tournaments at a young age. After continuous excellent performances at national Level, her talent and hard work earned her a place in the Indian team in 2006 for the South Asian Games in Sri Lanka. Injuries and comeback After representing India at the age of 17, Abhilasha suffered successive injuries in 2007 and 2008. Both her knees required operations, which kept her away from kabaddi. However she made a strong comeback in 2010 and won a gold medal in the 57th Senior National Kabaddi Championship, Dombivali. She was awarded as the best player of the tournament in 58th Senior National Kabaddi Championship, Udipi. Abhilasha recollected, "I had lost all hopes after my second injury. I thought this was it. My kabbadi career was over. But I made a comeback in 2010 and prove myself wrong". She played five major international events after her comeback. National career Abhilasha Mhatre represented Maharashtra state kabaddi team for the first time in 2005. She led Maharashtra in the Senior National.