R. Umadevi Nagraj

#45/100 in #100extraordinarywomen

Revanna Umadevi Nagraj embarked on a journey back in 1995 in the billiards room of Karnataka Government Secretariat (KGS) Club; a journey of effort, persistence and unbridled glory. As she set out to realise her dream, life began for her at 47.

Umadevi, born on 11 February 1965, had a very mundane existence as after the completion of her SSLC and training in typewriting, she started working as a typist for the horticulture department in 1989 at Lalbagh in Bangalore. Her passion for the game was a divine discovery as she chose to explore table tennis initially which was actively played by government staffers. Waiting endlessly amidst a bunch of people for her turn to play, the spark within her could not be suppressed as she wandered off to the nearby billiards table. Its then secretary Krishna Kumar took her to the billiards room and thrust a cue in her hands. There was no looking back since then. She started to play the game out of curiosity but got hooked to it as she played more and soon realized that she was destined to play billiards.

She started practicing after office hours, and her dedication and hard work got her to the number three position on the state snooker ranking. This was a great boost to her morale and gave wings to her already flying dreams. The state ranking got her membership of the Karnataka State Billiards Association (KSBA). Understanding her passion for the game, the horticulture department transferred Umadevi to Cubbon Park, where she could further her sports interests. Being a shy girl, she could not communicate properly with people which led her to becoming the butt of many jokes, but she didn’t let this come in her way and decided to gain everyone’s respect through a good game. She was always different as she chose to initiate something new by extending her limitations, thereby starting on an outstanding journey.

Arjuna awardee cueist Aravind Savur became her mentor at the KGS Club. Later she was trained by Jairaj, former coach of the national billiards team. It was the sheer result of her firm resolution and hard work that she won her first national championship in Ahmedabad (2002). 

After her first national championship, she started getting a lot of opportunities to play abroad, but she could not afford it due to financial restrictions. She would go and practice the game everyday, come back and immerse herself in daily household chores with her mind elsewhere. When her husband noticed this, he did a few financial “adjustments” and arranged for some money for her trip. “I went only because he urged me to,” she says. Then there was no looking back as billiards became synonymous to living, for her. She participated in the World championships in China (2003), Netherlands (2004) and Syria (2011). She won the women’s billiards and snooker world championship at Cambridge in the UK in 2012, and reached the pinnacle of the game. She also received Arjuna award in 2009 for her contribution to Billiards. The humble senior typist working with the state horticulture department made it to the top, beating seven competitors from various countries.

“If you want to see the dawn, make the sun rise, if there is no sun, make one.” Umadevi made her own sun and created the dawn of her life by defying the age old conventions which governed the life of every sportsperson. The senior most player never let the age factor hinder her progressive journey, instead her sheer exuberance and passion translated into fantastic games which made her the queen of billiards. From an introvert, reserved senior typist to the world champion, the metamorphosis has been incredible.

“There are many things that one learns from a sport. Cue sport has primarily helped me grow as an individual. I was somebody who did my routines, and just stuck to myself. Today, the game has taken me places. I am much more confident and social”, she says. Today, women are getting recognition in every field of life including their corporate jobs, dance, music, cinema, etc. Choosing sports as a career just requires extra effort and dedication. Umadevi sets an example for many such women who want to pursue their dreams of becoming a sports star but are hesitant due to their family responsibilities and age. A lesson we have learnt from Umadevi is that it’s never too late to chase your dreams. R. Umadevi is a lustrous example of a story driven by passion which was created by the intensity of her own burning desires, giving way to a magnificent reality. The Arjuna awardee is an embodiment of a true leader as her action has inspired budding sportspersons out there to believe in them and realise their dream. 

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