Manasa, who led blind women’s football team of Karnataka, among victims of Haveri accident

Among the 13 victims of the road accident at Gundenahalli Cross in Haveri district is Manasa S., who led the Karnataka team in the national blind women’s football tournament and won the championship for the State in 2021. She played for the Indian team in the Asia Cup in 2022.

Manasa, 25, is the daughter of Sharangi Rao and Bhagyamma of Emmehatti in Bhadravati taluk of Shivamogga district. She was among 17 people who travelled in the Tempo Traveller that met with an accident. Her mother, Bhagyamma, 45, also died in the accident.

13 pilgrims from one village killed in pre-dawn road accident in Haveri district of Karnataka

Manasa was a student of Sharada Andhara Vikasa Kendra in Shivamogga up to SSLC. Later, she moved to Bengaluru for higher studies.

Mahalakshmi, her elder sister, said, “My sister has been visually impaired since birth. She was good in sports and studies. She won many cups and medals, and was the first captain of the blind women’s football team of Karnataka. She wanted to become an IAS officer. She was attending coaching classes for the civil service examination.”

Waseem Akram, coach at Karnataka Blind Football Association, told The Hindu that Manasa was one of the top football players in India. “She came into contact with the association in 2021, and became captain of the blind women’s team. That year, for the first time, the Karnataka team took part in the Women’s National Blind Football Championship, held in Chennai, and won the championship. The next year, the team was runner-up in the tournament held in Pune,” he recalled.

Scenes from the first match in the on-going blind football championship for women

She was selected for the team for the Asia Cup. She was among the top 10 players in India. The coach said Manasa was a good striker and a strong defender.

“She represented India in 2022 IBSA Women’s Asia-Oceania Blind Football Championship held at Kochi and played one international match against Japan .” he said.

Earlier, as a student, she had won many medals, including gold, in shot put, discuss throw and javelin throw in tourneys organised by the Indian Blind Sports Federation. She secured scholarships offered by National Federation for the Blind.