From a tribal neighbourhood to the national spotlight, Pavani’s journey highlights grassroots talent nurtured through dedication and free training initiatives
Published on: January 20, 2025
By: BTNI
Location: Rajnandgaon, India
Rajnandgaon’s Rewadih Ward has emerged as a beacon of sporting excellence with the selection of young basketball player Pavani Kodape to the NBA All-Star Team. Pavani earned this honour during the ACG Junior NBA 3×3 National City League held in Prayagraj from January 11 to 15, where she represented DPS Rajnandgaon’s B team. Despite her team’s exit in the pre-quarterfinals, Pavani’s individual performance stood out, leading to her All-Star selection. She will now represent the team at the ACG Junior NBA 3×3 National Final scheduled to be held in Delhi this February.
Pavani comes from a humble background. Her mother works as a domestic help, while her father is a driver. She is one of six sisters, four of whom actively play basketball. The Kodape family has already made its mark at the national level, with Pavani’s sisters Anjali Kodape and Aditi Kodape having won gold medals in national tournaments and represented India at the NBA Rising Star Invitational International Basketball Tournament in Singapore.
Sports experts often say that Chhattisgarh is rich in talent but lacks opportunities for discovery and grooming. This gap has been bridged in Rewadih by international basketball coaches Kalva Rajeshwar Rao and his wife Kalva Radha Rao. Through their dedicated efforts, several players from Naxal-affected and forest regions of the state have competed at national and international levels, winning medals and even securing government jobs.
The coaches facilitated the construction of a basketball court in Rewadih Ward and began providing free training to students of the Government Upper Primary and Primary Schools. They also identified talented players from nearby wards and mentored them rigorously. As a result, athletes training on these grounds are now gaining national and international recognition.
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Pavani Kodape has an impressive sporting record. She won a gold medal at the CBSE Cluster Basketball Championship held in Cuttack during the 2025–26 session, participated in the CBSE National Basketball Championship in Mahendragarh, and competed in Sub-Junior School National Basketball Championships held in Rajnandgaon and Shahdol. She has also secured a gold medal at the State-Level School Basketball Championship in Raipur.
Initially a student of the Government Upper Primary School, Rewadih, Pavani’s exceptional performance earned her admission to Delhi Public School, Rajnandgaon. She credits her success, as well as that of her sisters, to coaches Kalva Rajeshwar Rao and Kalva Radha Rao. She also expressed gratitude to her school teacher Mrs Sanju Mishra and Headmaster Anupram Kanwar for their constant encouragement, which motivated not only the Kodape sisters but also other children of the ward to take up sports.
Pavani Kodape’s achievement has brought pride to Rewadih Ward and Rajnandgaon district. Congratulations have poured in for Pavani and her international coaches, whose efforts continue to shape the future of grassroots basketball in Chhattisgarh.
