sheeba

BANKALAM: KV Sheeba, the former superstar of the National Handball Championships, is currently doing work under the employment guarantee scheme. Sheeba, the wife of VP Narayanan, had to give up handball in order to earn the daily bread for her family.

KV Sheeba is a player who had excelled in school and university teams. She had also played a crucial role in helping the Kerala team to become the champions in several national championships. She was hopeful when the Left Front government started giving houses and jobs to athletes. However, her hopes were dashed as the government failed in providing a house for her. Despite submitting several petitions to the Chief Minister and the ministers, Sheeba did not get any positive response. 38-year-old Sheeba lives with her husband and three children in a shed covered with plastic sheets in a five-cent area in Kootappunna. She started going for labour work as the income earned by her husband from wage labour was not sufficient to look after the family.

Sheeba studied at Vayakara School in Kannur which was famous for handball. It was coach Damodaran who discovered her skills. While studying for Plus Two in 1999, she became a key player for the district and state school teams. She did her degree in sports quota at Changanassery Assumption College, Kottayam. She was named the best player at MG University. Soon, she became a star player for the Kerala team. Sheeba was the captain of the Kerala team in the National School Games.

She had not given up handball until she got married in 2004. Sheeba is saddened that she was not considered for a government job despite the fact that at least 40 people from the sports sector are recruited every year.