Report by Akshya Rout; Jajpur: Rasmita  (21) from a remote Badaniranjanpur village under Rasulpur block in Jajpur district was like a hidden treasure until she was spotted by a kabbadi coach five years back in a Kabbadi tournament organized by Kuakhia Kabbadi club in Kuakhia while playing in a Kabbadi match.

Rasmita  dreamt big and her dream came true when she represented India in the World Kabbadi Cup in Patna  six months back and the India team won gold in the World Cup.  She enjoyed a celebrity status in her village and its nearby areas after she  won  Kabbadi World Cup in Patna. But all her dream to get a job fell like ninepins after the state government refused to provide her any job for which Rasmita recently left the state after Andhra Pradesh government assured a job.

"I love to play Kabbadi . My coach Purnachandra Sethi spotted my talent five years back", said Rasmita . Born to a poor framer parent she is the eldest of three children. "My aim in life was always to play Kabbadi for the country. So I worked hard", said Rasmita.

Teams from 16 countries  participated  in the first Kabbadi World Cup for women in Patna from March 1 to 4. Besides hosts India, USA, UK, Canada, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, Thailand, Turzikimistan, China, Taipei, Iran, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar and Sri Lanka  had taken  part in the competition.

After winning world cup, the state government promised me to give a job. But the authority did not provide me any job for which I was forced to leave Odisha”, said Rasmita.

"I dearly  stood  proud on the victory dais in Patna and mouthed along to the words of the national anthem, a tune that had barely been heard outside of my tiny village,   but the state government dashed all my dream by not providing me a job , said Rasmita.

" We are all proud for the achievements of Rasmita ", said Prabhuranjan satpathy villager. Rasmita  speedily touch her opponents and easily reach the mark and helped her team to win many matches as she is a good Kabbadi player, said Purnachandra Sethi her coach."

Rasmita  is full of talent and her dedication was proved in the  state and international level and I hope she will perform well in Andhra ",added Sethi.