Anitha Pauldurai

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Anitha Pauldurai
2017-03-19-Anitha Pauldurai.jpg
Personal information
Born (1985-06-22) 22 June 1985 (age 40)
Madras (now Chennai),
Tamil Nadu, India
Nationality Indian
Listed height167 cm (5 ft 6 in)
Career information
Playing careerInternational: 2001–2018
PositionSouthern Railways (Officer On Special Duty)
Career highlights
Padma Shri (2021)

Anitha Pauldurai (born 22 June 1985) is an Indian basketball player from Tamil Nadu. [1] She was the captain of the India women's national basketball team for eight years after making her senior India debut in 2000. [2] She has been conferred with National Civilian Award Padma Shri in 2021. [3] She has been also conferred with Chief Minister State Award in the field of sports by Government of Tamil Nadu in 2013. [4]

Contents

Early life and education

Pauldurai was born in a middle class Tamil family to late police constable G. Pauldurai and housewife Lalitha in Madras (now Chennai), Tamil Nadu. She did her schooling at St. Antony’s Higher Secondary School in Santhome and Lady Sivaswamy Ayyar Girls’ Higher Secondary School in Mylapore. [5] She did her B.Com.at Madras University and later did MBA (HRM) from Annamalai University. She joined Southern Railway 2003, and worked as Officer on Special Duty, Ticket Checking. In 2021, she became a Chief Welfare Inspector (Sports). N Sampath was one of her early coaches at the Rising Star Club. [6] [7]

Career

Pauldurai played for 18 years in the Indian women's national team (2000 to 2017). She is the first Indian woman who played nine Asian Basketball Confederation (ABC) championships continuously representing the national squad. Anitha has a record of 30 medals in national championships. [8]

She was also the youngest to captain the Senior National Team at the age of 19 at the FIBA Asia Championship in China. [9] She went on to captain the national team for eight years. In August 2012, she was selected to play for an international women professional league in Thailand. [6]

She played a number of international tournaments including big-ticket events such as the Asian championship, Commonwealth Games 2006 and Asian Games 2010. She won the gold medal in 1st 3x3 FIBA Asian Basketball Championships at Doha 2013. [7] She was also part of the team that won gold medal in 3rd Asian Beach games at Haiyan, China 2012. She was captain and provided top assists in the tournament where India won gold medal in south Asian Beach games at Sri Lanka in 2011 and silver medal in Asian indoor games at Vietnam 2009. [10] [11] [12]

She was employed with Indian Railways and in domestic events, she played for Southern Railways. [13] Even in November 2022, she represented Tamil Nadu that won the Federation Cup at Bengaluru. [14]

Coaching career

In October 2017, she was named as the assistant coach for the Indian under 16 team, after nearly 18 years of her playing career. [15]

Awards and achievements

Apart from these top awards, she received many other honours including FEMINA Super Daughter Award 2021, Tamil Nadu Women achiever Award from the Brand Republic 2021, Life Time Achievement Award from Rotary Club Chennai Velachery 2021, Sports Women of the Year Award from Jeppiaar Institute of Technology 2021, Raindrops Women Achiever Award 2021, Best Sports Women Award from TN World Women Wing 2021, Wonder Women Award from Virisha Book of World Record 2021, Women Achiever Award from State Bank Of India 2019, Villayatu Ratna Award from News7 channel Tamil Ratna Awards 2018, Received Doctor of Letters (D.LITT) from DK International Research Foundation 2018, Women Achiever Award from Rajalakshmi Engineering College 2018, Young Achiever Award from International Youth Fest 2018, Women Achiever Award from Vels University 2017, Vikadan award for Golden Captain 2016, Top Plays of the Tournament 2013 FIBA Asian Women, Southern Railway General Manager's Railway Week Award for sports 2008, Best Player Award in 17th Youth Nationals at Vashi 2001 and she also received Book of World Records certificate for contribution towards the basketball sport in India.[ citation needed ]

International sporting achievements

YearCompetitionVenue & datesPositionNotes
Representing India
2017FIBA U-16 Women's Asia ChampionshipBengaluru 22 to 28 OctoberWinnerAsst coach
Level II
2017FIBA Women's Asia Cup Division B [16] Bengaluru 23 to 29 JulyWinnerCaptain
Level II
39th William Jones CupChinese Taipei 5 to 9 JulyTop 4Captain
201526th FIBA Asia Championship for Senior Women [17] Wuhanchina 29 Aug to 5 SepTop 6Captain
1st FIBA Asia 3 On 3 ChampionshipDhoha, Qatar 15 to 16 MayGold medal
201325th FIBA Asia Championship for Senior WomenBangkok, Thailand 27 Oct to 3 NovTop 5
3rd Asian Beach GamesHaiyang, China 16 to 22 JuneGold medalCaptain Top Assist
Women's Professional Basketball LeagueThailand JulySripatum
2012University
34th William Jones Cup TournamentTaiwan 7 to 11 JuneTop 4
1st South Asian Beach GamesHambantotaGold medal
Sri Lanka 8 to 14 Aug
201124th FIBA Asia Championship for Senior WomenNagasakiTop 5Top Steal
Japan 21 to 28 Aug
33rd William Jones Cup for WomenChinese Taipai 31 July to 4 AugTop 4
201016th Asian GamesChina
Guangzhou 12 to 27 Nov
3rd Asian Indoor GamesVietnam 30 Oct to 8 NovSilver medal
200924th FIBA Asia Championship for Senior Women [18] ChennaiCaptain
17 to 24 Sep
200722nd FIBA Asia Championship for Senior WomenIncheon, Korea 3 to 10 JuneWinner
Levelii
Common Wealth GamesMelbourne, Australia 15 to 26 MarTop Assist of Tournament
2006Four Nations International Basketball TournamentAuckland, New Zealand 8 to 12 Mar
1st Phuket International Invitational TournamentThailand 22 to 25 SepGold medal
200521st FIBA Asia championship for Senior WomenGinhuangdao, China 19 to 26 JuneCaptain
(Youngest ever captain)
International Invitational Basketball TournamentMalaysiaSilver medal
200420 to 30 June
20th FIBA Asia Championship for Senior WomenJapan
13 to 19 Jan
200119th FIBA Asia Championship for Senior WomenBangkok
Thailand 4 to 11 Oct
2000Junior FIBA Asia Basketball Championship for WomenDelhi
16 to 22 Dec

National sporting achievements

YearCompetitionVenue & datesPositionNotes
Life Time Achievement Award received from Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu
201868th Senior National Basketball ChampionshipChennaiGold medal
17 to 24 Jan
67th Senior National Basketball ChampionshipPondicherryBronze
7 to 14 Jan
2017Federation CupCoimbatoreSilver
41st All India Railway ChampionshipKolkata 10 to 15 NovGold
66th Senior National Basketball ChampionshipMysore 9 to 16 JanGold
201640th All India Railway ChampionshipSecundrabad 25 to 30 NovSilver
35th National GamesKerala 1 to 14 FebSilver
201529th Federation CupPune 29 Mar to 2 AprGold
39th All India Railway ChampionshipMumbai 20 to 26 NovGold
1st 3 On 3 Senior National Basketball ChampionshipNew Delhi 10 & 11 AprilGold
Bengaluru 30 Jan to 3 FebCaptain Most Valuable Player
201327th Federation CupGold
37th All India Railway ChampionshipKapurthala 6 to 10 NovGold
67th Senior National Basketball ChampionshipLudhiana 20 Dec to 4 JanGold
26th Federation CupCochin 14 to 18 MarGold
201236th All India Railway ChampionshipGuwahati 1 to 8 NovGold
62nd Senior National Basketball ChampionshipChennai 16 to 24 DecGold
34th National GamesJharkhand 12 to 26 FebGoldCaptain
25th Federation CupRaipur 10 To 15 FebSilver
201135th All India Railway ChampionshipKapurthala 4 to 11 NovSilver
61st Senior National Basketball ChampionshipNew Delhi 20 Dec to 4 JanGold
34th All India Railway ChampionshipSecundrabad 26 Nov to 3 DecGold
201051st South Zone Basketball ChampionshipVisakhapatnam 23 to 27 JuneGoldCaptain
60th Senior National Basketball ChampionshipLudhiana 27 Dec to 3 JanGoldCaptain Top Scorer Award
200933rd All India Railway ChampionshipJabalpur 6 to 12 OctGold
59th Senior National Basketball ChampionshipSurat 31 Dec to 7 JanGold
32nd All India Railway ChampionshipGuwahati 3 to 9 SepBronze
200850th South Zone Basketball ChampionshipHospet 18 to 22 OctGoldCaptain
58th Senior National Basketball ChampionshipPondicherry 21 to 28 DecGold
23rd Federation CupRourekela 31 Oct to 4 NovSilverCaptain
2007
31st All India Railway ChampionshipChennai 20 to 26 NovGoldCaptain
56thsenior National Basketball ChampionshipPune 20 Dec to 4 Jan 2006Gold
21st Federation CupBhavnagar 15 to 19 FebSilver
29th All India Railway ChampionshipGorakpur 19 to 22 OctSilver
2005R. Vaikuntam CupNew Delhi 12 to 14 JulyBronze
55th Senior National Basketball ChampionshipLudhiana 26 Dec to 2 JanGold
2004
28th All India Railway ChampionshipLucknow 1 to 8 NovGold
54th Senior National Basketball ChampionshipCuttack 26 Dec 2003 to 2 Jan 2004Gold
45th South Zone Basketball ChampionshipYanam 18 to 22 JulyGold
27th All India Railway ChampionshipVaranasi 5 to 12 NovBronze
200354th Junior NationalsLudhiyana 7 to 14 June-
53rd Senior National Basketball ChampionshipHyderabad 25 Jan to 1 Feb
200253rd Junior NationalsGoa 10 to 17 May
51st Senior National Basketball ChampionshipBengaluru 5 to 12 JanBronze
31st National GamesPunjab 19 Nov to 1 DecSilver
52nd Junior NationalsBhilai 17 to 24 June-
200118th Youth NationalsMadhya Pradhesh 14 to 20 OctGoldCaptain
50th Senior National Basketball ChampionshipDelhi 25 Dec to 1 Jan 2000Bronze
200017th Federation CupVishakapatnam 25 to 30 JulyForth
51st Junior NationalsHimachal Pradesh 9 to 15 SepBronze
17th Youth NationalsVashi 25 Dec to 1 Jan 2001GoldCaptain Most Valuable Player
50th Junior NationalsPondicherry 21 to 27 MayGold
16th Youth NationalsChittoragarh 8 to 13 DecSilver
199915th Youth NationalsSurat 23 to 29 Jan
25th Sub-Junior NationalPondicherry 14 to 18 May-
1998XLIV National School GamesChandigarh 14 to 19 Nov

See also

References

  1. "Anitha Pauldurai profile, FIBA Asia Championship for Women 2011 | FIBA.COM". FIBA.COM. Archived from the original on 27 May 2016. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
  2. "Padma award playing a team sport makes it more special: Anitha Pauldurai". The Times of India. 27 January 2021. ISSN   0971-8257 . Retrieved 14 July 2025.
  3. "Anitha Pauldurai: Seamless transition from young captain, motherhood, to coach". www.fiba.basketball. 1 April 2021. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
  4. Imtiaz, Md (25 January 2021). "Padma Shri awardee basketball player Anitha Pauldurai finally gets her due". thebridge.in. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
  5. Kanthimathi, L. (8 February 2021). "A champion in their midst". The Hindu. ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 14 July 2025.
  6. 1 2 Chakraborty, Samrat (31 January 2021). "Who is Anitha Pauldurai - The Indian women's basketball legend who was awarded the Padma Shri?". Olympics. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
  7. 1 2 migrator (31 January 2021). "Padma Shri awardee Anitha on cloud nine". www.dtnext.in. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
  8. "FIBA Women's Asia Cup 2025: Indian women start with a solid win in Division 2". thebridge.in. 13 July 2025. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
  9. Peter, Naveen (17 February 2021). "Meet the hoopsters who helped Indian basketball rise and shine". Olympics. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
  10. "Geethu Anna Jose and Anitha Paul Durai played in Thailand professional basketball league". 18 August 2012. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  11. Chidananda, Shreedutta; Chidananda, Shreedutta (2 February 2013). "I love playing for Tamil Nadu: Anitha". The Hindu. ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  12. Staff Reporter (26 January 2021). "Ten from T.N. chosen for Padma Shri". The Hindu. ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  13. R, Gopalakrishnan (18 April 2013). "28th Ramu Memorial Basketball Tournament: Southern Railway 81, Maharashtra 49 (Women)". www.sportskeeda.com. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
  14. R, Gopalakrishnan (18 April 2013). "28th Ramu Memorial Basketball Tournament: Southern Railway 81, Maharashtra 49 (Women)". www.sportskeeda.com. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
  15. "Anitha Pauldurai named assistant coach of Indian U-16 basketball team". The Times of India. 15 October 2017. ISSN   0971-8257 . Retrieved 14 July 2025.
  16. "FIBA Women's Asia Cup Division B | FIBA Basketball Events". www.fiba.basketball. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
  17. "India beats Kazakhstan in a thriller". Deccan Chronicle. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
  18. "Basketball player, Anitha Pauldurai of Team India in action during..." Getty Images. 25 September 2009. Retrieved 14 July 2025.