Dooars resident Bhavani Munda has been
selected to receive the L’Oreal Paris Femina Women Award 2014 in the
sports category and she left for Mumbai today. Bhavani, who has been
playing football since her childhood, has appeared in local, district
and even state level tournaments.
Attached with Kalchini-based ‘Dooars
Eleven’ since 1993, Bhavani has won several medals and established
herself as a well-known footballer in the region. The administration may
have failed to take note of her skills and contribution to women’s
football, but organisers of the Femina-L’Oreal Paris initiative has
invited her to Mumbai to felicitate her.
Bhavani owns a small tea shop near
Kalchini Hindi High School with which she ekes out a livelihood and she
also owns and manages Dooars Eleven.
Speaking over phone with this
correspondent, she said nobody from the administration or any local
organisation has stepped forward to support her and her club. However,
her efforts have been recognised by Femina magazine deputy editor Urvasi
Panta, who mailed her an invitation to Mumbai on March 24. She added
club members are joyful beyond words before boarding her flight from
Bagdorga airport.