B Yashoda Reddy of Brahmapur city is the only woman kickboxer from Odisha to be selected in the national team that would participate in the international championship to be held at Bangkok.
Yashoda has won awards in the state level championships held at Rourkela and Bhubaneswar and national championship at Patna in which she played against West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh. However, this talented Mari Kom of Odisha needs adequate sponsorship to fulfil her long-cherished dream of participating in the Olympic Games in Brazil in August next year.
Despite being a daily wage labourer, B Areya has provided all assistance to his daughter. Apart from this, international gold medallist and coach N Balakrishna Reddy has also provided necessary assistance to her.
With his effort, Yashoda had participated in the All India Kickboxing Championship in Bihar in December last year. On the basis of her performance there, she was selected in the national team for the ensuing International Kickboxing Championship at Bangkok.