All in the family
The Sideks are synonymous to badminton, the Yoong siblings are creating waves in water ski while the Saari brothers are dribbling their way in hockey.
But, have you heard of the Balaraman siblings?
Malarvili, making her debut at the international arena was adjudged as the Best Defensive Player at the recent World Cup Kabaddi held in Melaka.
Her elder brother Jegan Kumar represented Malaysia at the Asian Games and was captain of the Malaysian side that finished third at the World Cup.
Malarvili’s sister Taranjini represented Malaysia at the Asian Championships a couple of years ago.
To top it all, she played alongside her sister-in-law Balajothi at the World Cup. Balajothi is married to Jegan Kumar.
The 24-year-old Malarvili said that she picked up the game from her siblings when she was studying at the SM Tanah Merah in Bukit Pelandok.
Bukit Pelandok used to be a nurturing ground for talented kabaddi players and a number of players from there have made the international grade n the past.
“I started playing when I was in Form three but gave up the sport for almost five years until I was encouraged to attend the national trials for the World Cup,” said Malarvili.
She added that it was her elder brother who had thought her the game but she had to give up the sport as there were no teams to train or play with in Bukit Pelandok in recent years.
All of them had one time or another also represented their state at the SUKMA.
Youngest brother Jiva Devan took up the game but has yet to pursue it seriously like the other siblings.
“I am glad that I made the decision to start playing again and am looking forward to the next tournament,” said the Air Asia employee.
Malarvili is expected to resume training with the national team when the team resumes centralised training later next month.
She was a vital cog in the Malaysian team that beat Hong Kong in the playoff for the bronze medal at the World Cup.
The World Cup was hosted by the Malaysia Kabaddi Federation under the auspices of World Kabaddi.
Never take her petite frame for weakness, as it was her clinical ankle holds that captured the imagination of all in Melaka.
Her well timed catches nullified quite a number of raiders, who failed to see the danger in her.
Malarvili attributed her success to the support of her national teammates as well as the guidance of national coach R. Balamurugan.
The fact that her entire family were at the stands, encouraging her and the Malaysian side was an added bonus.
Her entire extended family had taken leave to be in Melaka to support the Malaysian team for the whole duration of the World Cup.
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