The Bala Gaurav Award is among the highest recognitions conferred by the Government of Karnataka on children below 18 years of age, honouring exceptional talent and achievements in fields such as sports, music and dance, fine arts, and science.
Diya Bheemaiah, has risen to prominence with her consistent performances, scaling one small peak at a time, in her determined journey to the top of the game. According to the selection list released by the Bal Vikas Academy, Diya was selected for the award in the Sports category (Junior Division) for the year 2022–23, in recognition of her outstanding achievements in badminton at both the state and national levels.
Diya is an outstanding badminton player with immense potential from Kodagu and a proud student of Vidyashram College, Mysuru. She is grouped among the top-ranked junior badminton players in Karnataka. She began her badminton journey under the guidance of coach Medura Arun Pemmaiah at Sports Park, Mysuru. She is presently undergoing advanced training at the Centre of Excellence under the Badminton Association of India in Assam.
Diya is the daughter of Boppanda Kusuma and Bheemaiah, residents of Kodagu.
The award ceremony was held on December 16 at Suvarna Soudha, Belagavi. The award was presented by Smt. Laxmi Hebbalkar, Hon’ble Minister for Women and Child Development and Empowerment, along with Shri Sangamesh Babaleshwar, Chairman of the Bal Vikas Academy.
As Diya is currently representing India at the Astana International Challenge 2025 in Kazakhstan, the award was received on her behalf by her mother, Kusuma.
For a starry-eyed young sportsperson a recognition such as the Bala Gaurava Award should provide exemplary delight. Alas, this pertains to the year 2022-23 – what a sad reflection of the appalling professionalism and gross ineptitude.
To make matters worse, talk to the children and their parents and one will be aghast about the accommodation provided at State tournaments – benches in school classrooms are meant to be beds.
DIya Bheemaiah is exceptional talent that requires careful grooming. Training and participation in tournaments can be expensive. Can the Kodava Samajas and the Community at large please step up and offer voluntary assistance? It would mean a world of encouragement to young Diya and her parents.