Kavita Selvaraj Biography: Early Life, Domestic Career, Achievements, Social Media and More
Kavita Selvaraj is the chief coach of the Indian women’s kabaddi team. She was born on May 21, 1984. Kavita comes from Chennai, a city in Tamil Nadu. Today, she stands as a respected coach in the sport. She guides young women players to become national and international champions.
Early Life and Background
Kavita was born in the year 1984 in Chennai. She grew up in an area where the sport was popular. Her family supported her interest in athletics. As a young girl, she dreamed of playing at a national level. She worked hard to turn her dreams into reality.
Career as an Athlete
She had a long career as a player. She competed for her country in many international events. Her playing career was full of success and hard work. She played in many competitions across Asia.
International Achievements as a Competitor
As an athlete, she won many medals for her country. She competed in the 2007 Asian Championship. Here, she helped her team win a gold medal. In 2008, she competed in another Asian Championship. Her country won gold again at this event too.
In 2010, she played in the 16th Asian Games held in China. The national women’s team won the gold medal. This was a major achievement for her. The sport was her passion, and she gave everything on the court.
Career as a Police Officer
From 2007 to 2013, Kavita worked as a police officer. She managed both her job and her athletic training at the same time. This was a difficult period for her. She had to balance police duties with sports preparation. In 2013, at age 27, she decided to retire from playing. She had some injury issues that made it hard for her to continue competing. After retiring, she took a break from the sport to spend time with her family.
Return to the Sport as a Coach
In 2019, she returned to the sport, but now as a coach. Her family encouraged her to come back. They saw that she had a lot of knowledge about the game. She could teach others and help develop new players. This was the start of her coaching journey.
Coaching at SAI Gandhinagar
From 2020 to 2023, Kavita worked at the SAI Excellence Center in Gandhinagar. SAI stands for Sports Authority of India. This facility trains young sports players. Here, she coached young athletes. She taught them the skills and rules of the sport. Her work at SAI was very important for the development of the game.
During her time at this center, she became well known as a skilled coach. She knew how to teach players effectively. She also knew how to make them better at competition. Many young athletes learned from her at this facility.
Moving to Tamil Nadu
After 2023, Kavita took up a new position. She became an expert coach in Tamil Nadu. Tamil Nadu is her home state. She wanted to help the sport grow in her region. She was the coach for Tamil Nadu’s women’s team. She guided them in different competitions and tournaments.
Chief Coach of the National Women’s Team
Her biggest role came when she became the chief coach of the national women’s team. This is the top coaching position in the sport. As chief coach, she trains the national squad. She picks the best players for big competitions. She plans the game strategies for the country. Earlier as a coach she led Indian Women’s Kabaddi Team to victory (Gold Medal) in Asian Games 2023.
The 6th Asian Championship 2024
In 2024, Kavita coached the national women’s team. The 6th Asian Championship was held in Iran. This was a major international event. Under her coaching, the team played very well. The squad won many matches. In the final match, the team competed against Iran. The country won with a score of 32-25. This was a great victory for the squad and for her.
She worked hard to prepare the athletes for this competition. She made sure all players were fit and ready. She taught them new tactics and strategies. Her coaching helped the country win the championship.
2nd Kabaddi World Cup
Kavita is now the coach for the 2nd Kabaddi World Cup. This is a major event where teams from many countries compete. As the coach, she will lead the national women’s team in this world competition. She will make all the big decisions about the squad. Her job is to make sure the country plays at its best in this world cup.
Dhyan Chand Award for Lifetime Achievement
In 2023, she received the Dhyan Chand Award for Lifetime Achievement. This is a very high honor in the country. The award is given to people who have done great work in athletics. The President of India, Droupadi Murmu, presented her with this award on January 9, 2024. This award was a special moment for her. She felt very proud when she received it.
The Dhyan Chand Award recognizes her work as both a player and a coach. She won this award because of her service to the sport. She has helped the game grow significantly. She has trained many young athletes. Her coaching has brought medals to the country.
| Category | Event/Position | Location/Details | Year | Description |
| Awards & Honours | Dhyan Chand Award for Lifetime Achievement | India | 2023 | Lifetime Achievement Award – Recognizes work as player & coach |
| Awards & Honours | Presented by President of India | January 9, 2024 – Droupadi Murmu | 2024 | Awarded at National Sports Awards Ceremony |
| International – Player | 2007 Asian Championship | Gold Medal | 2007 | Competed & Won Gold Medal |
| International – Player | 2008 Asian Championship | Gold Medal | 2008 | Competed & Won Gold Medal |
| International – Player | 2010 – 16th Asian Games | Gold Medal | 2010 | Competed & Won Gold Medal |
| Professional Experience | Police Officer – Balancing Career & Sport | 2007-2013 | 2007-2013 | Worked as Police Officer while maintaining sports training |
| International – Player | 2009 South Asian Games | Gold Medal | 2009 | Competed & Won Gold Medal |
| Professional Experience | Retirement from Active Play | Age 27 – Due to Injuries | 2013 | Decided to retire from active competition |
| Professional Experience | Break from Sport | 2013-2019 | 2013-2019 | Took break to spend time with family |
| Professional Experience | Return to Sport as Coach | 2019 Onwards | 2019 | Decided to return as a coach with family support |
| Coaching – SAI | SAI Excellence Center Gandhinagar | 2020-2023 | 2020-2023 | Worked at Sports Authority of India Excellence Center |
| Coaching – SAI | Coach for Young Athletes | Skills Training & Development | 2020-2023 | Trained young athletes in sport skills and techniques |
| Coaching – Tamil Nadu | Expert Coach – Tamil Nadu | Tamil Nadu | 2023 Onwards | Took position in home state to develop game |
| Coaching – Tamil Nadu | Coach for Tamil Nadu Women’s Team | Various Competitions & Tournaments | 2023 Onwards | Guided women’s team in competitions |
| Coaching – National Team | Chief Coach – Indian Women’s Team | Gold Medal | 2023 Asian Games | Led team to championship victory |
| Coaching – National Team | Chief Coach – Indian Women’s Team | Current Position | Current | Top coaching position in the sport |
| Coaching – National Team | 6th Asian Championship 2024 – Iran | Team Won 32-25 vs Iran in Final | 2024 | Led team to championship victory |
| Coaching – National Team | 2nd Kabaddi World Cup | Current Role | Current | Leading team preparation for world event |
Role in Women’s Game Growth
Kavita believes that women’s competition should be as popular as men’s competition. She has worked to make this happen. When she started playing, it was hard for girls to compete. People did not support women’s participation much at that time. But things have changed now.
Today, there is a women’s Pro League. This is a big event where women players earn money by competing. She has been part of making this happen. She attended trials to pick players for the women’s Pro League. She talked to people about the importance of women’s sports.
She has also worked to develop the game in Tamil Nadu. Many years ago, no one from the state was part of the national team. She wanted to change this situation. She worked hard to find young talent in the region. She trained them and helped them reach the national level.
Current Position and Responsibilities
Today, she holds the position of expert coach for the national women’s team. She leads the squad in all major competitions. She is also the coach for the 2nd Kabaddi World Cup. This is a big responsibility for her. She must make sure the team is ready for this world event.
Kavita also helps with player selection and development. She picks the best athletes for the national squad. She looks at their skills and their fitness. She decides who will play in important matches.
Besides coaching, she speaks about the sport at public events. She talks about how competition is growing. She tells people about the hard work that athletes do. She inspires young girls to take up sports.
Personal Life and Family
Kabaddi brought Kavita to where she is today. She is married and has a family. Her family has always supported her work. They encouraged her to come back to the sport as a coach. They know how much competition means to her.
She lives in Tamil Nadu with her loved ones. She spends time with them when she is not coaching. Her family is proud of her work in athletics.
Impact on the National Game
Kavita has made a big difference in the sport. As a player, she won many medals for her country. As a coach, she has won medals for the nation too. She has trained many young athletes who have become national champions.
She is a role model for many young girls in the country. She shows that girls can play at the highest level. She shows that girls can also become great coaches. Her story inspires others to follow their dreams in athletics.
She has also helped the game grow in Tamil Nadu significantly. The state now has many good players. Many of them learned from her. They now compete in national tournaments. Some of them have joined the national squad.
Social Media
Kavita Selvaraj maintains a presence on Instagram under the handle @kavithaselvaraj622. While she is not a heavy social media user, her Instagram profile reflects her professional identity as a kabaddi player and coach. Her account serves primarily as a personal space rather than an official or promotional account for her coaching role with the Indian women’s kabaddi team.
On her Instagram profile, Kavita shares content related to her kabaddi career and personal moments. The posts on her account include updates about her coaching work, team celebrations, and achievements. Her followers get glimpses of her journey both as a professional athlete and as a coach. Additionally, her profile contains personal updates and family moments, showing a balance between her professional and personal life.
Kavita continues to work for the sport and her country. She is preparing the team for the 2nd Kabaddi World Cup. She is also helping to develop new young athletes. She wants to see more women compete at the highest level.
She believes that competition will keep growing in the coming years. She wants to be part of this growth. She wants to see the national women’s team win more medals at world events.
Her journey shows how hard work and passion can lead to success. She started as a young girl who loved the sport. She became a national champion. Then she became an expert coach. Her life is a lesson for all young athletes. It shows that if you work hard and never give up, you can reach any goal. She is a true champion of the sport.
