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Taste of Victory together: Sabita Pattanayak and Valena Valentina
From being a shoulder to cry on to the ultimate cheerleader of our life, mothers are the epitome of pure love. Kind, forgiving and affectionate, they go to enormous lengths to help their children reach big goals. One such woman is Sabita Pattanayak, the mother of ace woman karateka of Odisha Valena Valentina.
“My mother took great pains to ensure that I got the best of facilities for my training. Everyone in the family was against me when I decided to be a karate player but my mother stood by my side. She clearly saw the athlete in me. From arranging the necessary facilities to overseeing my training, she helped me take the first step towards success. What I am today is only because of my mother’s unwavering support,” says Valena.
The karateka informs that her mother is a bold and determined person apart from being very organized. “She belongs to a traditional family but she never stopped me from pursuing karate as a career despite it being a male-dominated sport. She helped me break the stereotype. My mother also made her own way by leading a respectable life,” says Valena.
“My mother is not only my best friend, she is my biggest inspiration. I am so impressed with her personality that I have always wanted to look like her. Whenever someone says you look like your mother in this attire, I cherish that dress or saree and preserve it with utmost care’, informs the state Karate queen Valena Valentina.
Speaking about the strong bond between them, the athlete says, “On the day of my naming ceremony, everyone suggested different names but my mother insisted on Valena Valentina. When someone asked her why such a name, she replied that her daughter would one day become famous and so the name should start with V which also stands for victory. Her belief in me inspires me to work harder.”
For Sabita, it is a privilege to be the mother of a successful athlete representing Odisha. “I feel proud to be Valena’s mother. She is a bit aggressive sometimes but it is a good thing as it helps her to focus on her goal. Valena adjusts to every situation and is not at all demanding,” says the mother.
Sabita further informs that though Valena achieved fame at a very young age, she still remains grounded. “Whenever she loses any match or feels down, she does not carry it for a long time. She talks to me and the very next moment gets back her fighting spirit,” she adds.
Sharing a memorable incident involving her daughter, Sabita says, “Valena was participating in the Asian games. I could not go with her as I had some official work. We were watching her match on TV. She was fighting for the bronze medal. During the match, she got injured and eventually lost the bout. It was painful for me to see being carried on a stretcher. Immediately, I reached the place where she was staying. The moment she saw me, her eyes lit up and she smiled. I can never forget that happy face of hers,” informs the mother.
