GUWAHATI, Feb 12 - All set to make an impact in front of the home crowd after being selected in the Indian women�s kabaddi team for the first time, Assam player Hasina Begum is very much optimistic regarding the chances of winning a gold medal in the 12th South Asian Games here.
Mother of two children and an employee of the Assam Police, Hasina Begum is geared up to deliver at the SAG.
�I started my career way back in 2002 and since then I have featured in the Assam senior women�s kabaddi squad. I am very much thankful to the secretary of All Assam Kabaddi Association, Abedur Rahman without whom it wouldn�t have been possible. He has not only backed me at crucial times but also played a key part in getting me the job,� Begum said.
The trial cum selection camp for the Indian team was held at Lucknow while the final camp was held in Jaipur.
The Kabaddi player from Azara locality in the northwestern part of Guwahati lamented on the fact that the State government has not been providing much support to kabaddi players.
�I am thankful to the State government for giving me the job. Although the State government is doing their job but it is quite less compared to some of the others. I think there should be some more emphasis on sports and kabaddi players should be recruited in some other departments also and not only in Police,� she added.
With the Pro Kabaddi League taking the sport into a different level, Begum is very much willing to play if a franchise selects her next season. Women�s kabaddi is likely to be included in 2017.
�I am a regular viewer of the Pro Kabaddi League and I have been supporting the Bengal Warriors. Women�s kabaddi is likely to be introduced in 2017 and I am very much willing to play if I am being selected by any of the franchises,� Begum said.