Breaking Barriers: The Rise of Madhu Mailankody in Sports Broadcasting

By Abhishek N Bhat | coastaldigest.com
May 3, 2019

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When Star Sports decided to launch its first dedicated Kannada sports channel, the move created ripples in a space already brimming with dozens of state level TV channels. But amid this crowded landscape emerged a fresh, commanding voice — one that quickly captured the hearts of sports lovers across Karnataka.

Madhu Mailankody, with her effortless charm and astute presentation, brought a new energy to sports broadcasting in the region. In a world where television anchors often lean towards theatrics and sensationalism, Madhu stood apart — grounded, insightful, and refreshingly authentic.

The Beginning of a Star

Flashing what many call her “million dollar smile,” Madhu became the first anchor to go live on Star Sports 1 Kannada, marking the channel’s historic launch under the Walt Disney owned Star India banner.

Known today as an all round sports presenter, she is one of the few female specialists in Karnataka covering a diverse range of games — cricket, football, badminton, kabaddi, and volleyball. Her work spans pre match build ups, post match analyses, and in depth interviews with some of the biggest names in international sport.

Despite her growing fame, Madhu’s humility and unassuming nature remain constant — traits that have earned her the admiration of colleagues and audiences alike.

Conversations with Legends

“How does it feel to work with some of the greatest names in sport?” I ask her over WhatsApp after catching her live on TV. She responds with candour:

“Working with legends and sharing space with them… it’s a dream. A great opportunity to interact with giants like Brian Lara, Brett Lee, Scott Styris, Anil Kumble, Irfan Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, Virender Sehwag, and Venkatesh Prasad.”

Moments later, she’s back on set — ready for the next live broadcast.

Rooted, Yet Global

Madhu’s journey began far from the studio lights. She hails from Mailankody, a pristine village in Perdala, Kasaragod district, born to Savithri G. Bhat and M. Ganapathi Bhat — a postgraduate who chose farming over corporate life, defying the tide of rural to urban migration.

Raised amid the simplicity of village life, Madhu moved to Mangaluru for college, graduating from two of its prestigious institutions — St Agnes College and St Aloysius College. Before stepping into television, she had already made a name for herself as an event anchor in Mangaluru, charming audiences at cultural festivals, weddings, and corporate gatherings.

Fluent in English, Kannada, Hindi, Malayalam, and Tulu, Madhu effortlessly bridges cultures and connects with audiences across India and beyond — earning her the moniker of “an anchor without borders.” Her work has taken her to stages not only across Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Hyderabad, and Goa, but also to international events in the UAE, Qatar, and Oman.

A League of Her Own

Madhu’s career is closely tied to some of the country’s biggest sporting leagues:

•    Anchor for the Indian Super League (ISL) since 2017.

•    Presenter for the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) in 2018 19.

•    Host for the Premier Badminton League (PBL) during 2018 19.

•    Ground MC for the Karnataka Premier League (KPL) since 2015.

•    Solo host for three seasons of the Mangalore Premier League (MPL).

•    The iconic voice of Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium during Indian Premier League (IPL) matches, engaging 35,000 plus spectators live.

•    Anchor for several international cricket tournaments, including the Asia Federation Cup.

Beyond the Spotlight

Madhu’s appeal isn’t limited to sports. She made her acting debut in the Tamil blockbuster Mookuthi Amman, sharing screen space with Nayanthara, and played the female lead in the Kannada music album Bheti on YouTube. Her candid voice has also reached audiences through podcasts and numerous interviews aired on South Indian television channels.

Despite her accomplishments, she remains grounded — a traveller at heart, happiest exploring nature rather than malls or restaurants. And while she’s outspoken, she shies away from unnecessary publicity, letting her work speak for itself.

Free‑Spirited and Fearless

Ask her what drives her and she’ll smile — the same smile that first captivated viewers — and say with quiet confidence:

“I am purely an independent girl.”

It’s this independence, combined with talent and humility, that has made Madhu Mailankody not just a presenter but a symbol of what modern sports broadcasting can be — authentic, inclusive, and deeply connected to its audience.

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Comments

PK Kudla
 - 
Sunday, 5 May 2019

Terribly gorgeous girl.  Nice photos. 

Richard Rego
 - 
Sunday, 5 May 2019

Well written. Hope Madhu Mailankody reaches great heights of success

Roshan Martis
 - 
Sunday, 5 May 2019

Wonderful article on a wonderful girl. Proud of you Madhu Mailankody. God bless.

Aron
 - 
Saturday, 4 May 2019

Nice piece of article on a nice girl. All the best Madhu

Nithin Mangalore
 - 
Saturday, 4 May 2019

Madhu Malankodi is quite familiar in Mangalore. Happy to see her scaling new heights. I liked the last line: “I am purely an independent girl”. You are practically a feminist. I must thank the writer Mr Abhishek N Bhat for the beautiful write up. 

Raveena M
 - 
Saturday, 4 May 2019

Wonderful woman. One should live life like this! I worked Madhu during an event in Mangalore years ago and received my first salary from her. 

M Sadashiva Rao
 - 
Friday, 3 May 2019

A stupendous performance and achievement - By Madhu Mailankdy - hailing from a remote rural place - proving that it is one's talent, attitude and passion that makes or marks a person - one need not be City bread to be an achiever -  Congratulations and compliments to this simple girl from Perdala - who has carved a niche for herself in the arena of sports presentation

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News Network
January 8,2026

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Jubail: Team B-Human (Jubail Unit) hosted a special felicitation ceremony at the Muzain Campus to honour Mr. Zakariya Jokatte, an ad-hoc member of the organisation and a recipient of the prestigious Karnataka Rajyotsava Award.

The event brought together the leadership of Team B-Human along with the faculty and management of Al Muzain, celebrating Mr. Jokatte’s lifelong commitment to social service and his recognition by the Karnataka state government for outstanding contributions to society.

Several prominent community leaders and philanthropists were present on the occasion, who spoke highly of Mr. Jokatte’s humanitarian work and dedication to public welfare.

Addressing the gathering, Team B-Human Founder Asif Deals outlined the organisation’s core mission and values. He urged attendees to watch a documentary highlighting Zakariya Jokatte’s inspiring life journey and achievements, describing it as a source of motivation for the younger generation.

During the ceremony, the management and trustees presented tokens of appreciation to the awardee. A memento was also presented to Team B-Human HQ President, Adv. Zeeshan, in recognition of his leadership and continued guidance.

The event reflected strong collaboration with Team Muzain, with senior management members including Deepak (General Manager), Ritesh (Planning Manager), and Cherian Thomas (Finance Manager) in attendance.

The felicitation ceremony was graced by Chairman Shareef White Stone, Trustees Yunus Manipal, Shahul Hamid, and Bashir Al Falak, and Executive Members Iqbal Buntwal, Nazir Ullal, Ibba Bajpe, Sheriff Adoor, Salim Udupi, Muqthar (Shield Sensor), and Farooq (Port Way).

The programme concluded with a collective call to continue supporting humanitarian causes, echoing the spirit of “B-Human” across both Saudi Arabia and India.

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News Network
January 7,2026

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Mangaluru: In a decisive move aimed at reshaping the economic future of the Beary community, the Bearys Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) formally launched its Youth Wing at a well-attended ceremony held at Ocean Pearl Hotel, Mangaluru on January 6. Bringing together business leaders, professionals, policymakers, and young aspirants, the event highlighted a shared resolve to build the community through entrepreneurship.

Delivering the keynote address, BCCI General Secretary Mohammed Imthiyaz outlined the motivation behind the formation of the chamber and its newly launched Youth Wing. He candidly spoke about the structural and mindset gaps that have historically held back the Beary community as a business force when compared to other established trading communities in India. These shortcomings, he said, can only be addressed through focused mentoring, collective effort, and by encouraging the younger generation to think beyond conventional boundaries.

“The future lies in empowering our youth to lead from the front and position the Beary community among India’s strongest business communities,” he said.

Guest speaker Yezdani Feroze delivered a thought-provoking address, asserting that the Beary community has the potential to lead Indian Muslims through trade and entrepreneurship. He stressed that success is not merely a reward for hard work, but for clear thinking, describing entrepreneurs as “professional thinkers.”

“The ummah cannot afford to produce more job seekers,” he said. “We need job creators, innovators, and history makers.”

Highlighting the power of ideas, Feroze reminded the audience that every invention—from mobile phones to everyday furniture—was once just an idea someone chose not to abandon. He called for the establishment of idea forums to nurture young entrepreneurs and help transform concepts into viable enterprises.

The programme also featured the felicitation of M A Gafoor, newly appointed Chairman of the Coastal Development Authority, and Shahid Thekkil, Chairman of the Karnataka Minimum Wage Board Commission. Thanking the organisers, Gafoor reaffirmed his commitment to the development of coastal Karnataka, with a special focus on boosting tourism. Shahid Thekkil expressed confidence that BCCI would play a pivotal role in producing a new generation of entrepreneurs from the community.

Presiding over the event, S M Rashid Haji officially announced the inauguration of the Youth Wing and emphasised that the initiative goes far beyond symbolic launches or routine meetings.

“This is about building entrepreneurs and investing in long-term community development,” he said.

Four coordinators were appointed to lead the Youth Wing: Zeeshan Ramlan (CEO, Talentzy), Ashhar Abdul Razak (Hajjaj Group), Ayaan Haris, and Muhammed Shahbaz.

The event brought together prominent business leaders, professionals, policymakers, and young aspirants, underscoring a shared vision of entrepreneurship-led community growth. 

Earlier, the programme included the recitation of the Holy Quran by Badruddin Panambur. Nissar Fakeer Mohammed, Secretary of BCCI, welcomed the gathering and served as the Master of Ceremony. The event concluded with a vote of thanks by BCCI Treasurer Mansoor Ahmed.

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News Network
January 10,2026

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Beltangady, Jan 10: Traffic on the treacherous Charmadi Ghat came to an abrupt halt on Friday night after a wild elephant descended onto the roadway between the second and third hairpin bends, triggering over an hour of complete chaos.

The dramatic encounter unfolded around 9.45 p.m. when the elephant reportedly uprooted a tree and positioned itself squarely in the middle of the narrow ghat stretch, calmly feasting while motorists watched in fear. With the massive animal refusing to budge, a long queue of vehicles quickly formed on both sides of the road.

Several motorists cautiously attempted to drive the elephant back toward the forest, but the lone tusker remained unmoved, leaving travellers stranded deep inside the ghat section.

Eyewitnesses stated that the situation became even more distressing as the location had no mobile network connectivity, preventing stranded commuters from contacting authorities or alerting others about the danger ahead.

The standoff finally eased only after the elephant slowly retreated into the darkness of the forest, allowing trapped vehicles to inch forward and continue their journey.

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