Having received the gSport award in 2026 in the 'Supporting Year' category, Prabashni 'Bashi' Naidu, a resident of Stanger, is using her national recognition to launch a large-scale campaign to develop volleyball in South Africa. She views this award not merely as personal acknowledgment but as an opportunity to use her voice to raise volleyball awareness and support other women in sports.
This prestigious award concludes a remarkable 12-month period for the 48-year-old athlete, which began after she won the silver medal at the 2025 World Masters Games in Taipei. Naidu is now leveraging her growing public platform to bring volleyball out of the shadows, debunking the myth that it is just an entertainment activity, and demanding serious investment in the sport.
Naidu emphasized the significance of this award, stating: 'When I looked at this trophy, I saw more than just an award. I saw recognition of a journey—and a reminder of what happens when someone says, 'I recognize her.' gSport didn't just give me an award. It gave me a platform, a network, and most importantly, a sense of belonging.'
Her drive to increase visibility is closely linked to her performances on the international stage. Playing in Taiwan with the Linkfields T12 Ladies Masters team, her team became the first women's indoor volleyball team from Africa to participate in the World Masters Games. Naidu scored a dramatic ace on the world court right from the first serve of the tournament.
The South Africans impressed everyone by defeating Brazil 2-0 in the group stage and overcoming Australia in a tense semi-final before securing silver in the competitive 40-plus category. However, behind this global success were immense personal sacrifices. Due to limited financial support, the players financed most of the campaign themselves. Naidu regularly made arduous trips from KwaZulu-Natal to training camps in Johannesburg, balancing this with her career and family responsibilities. She noted: 'That's what makes the silver medal from Taipei even more special.'
World Masters Games Team
Despite the global triumph, her determination to initiate a sporting revolution is rooted in deep community ties. Long before competing against international giants, her world was confined to a small village in the Northwest, formed by the Darnall sugar mill. Growing up as a descendant of Indian indentured laborers who arrived in South Africa in 1860, Naidu watched her father work as a mill foreman and her mother care for the family.
When ten-year-old Naidu fell in love with volleyball in middle school at Darnall during physical education classes under teacher D.B. Govender, her family and local community supported her ambitions. Naidu recalled: 'These astronomical costs for sportswear and travel were covered by my parents, family, and community.' This grassroots support bore fruit. Joining the Darnall volleyball club at age 12, Naidu progressed through the leagues of Stanger, the district, and Tongaat, eventually earning eight provincial selections, two national selections, and representing South Africa at an international club tournament in Mauritius in 1998.
Prabashni Naidu
Decades later, her national recognition has allowed her to directly help her roots. Earlier this year, Naidu visited the Darnall primary school grounds to introduce girls aged nine to thirteen to volleyball, teaching them reception, digging, attacking, and serving, and subsequently donating equipment to the school. Naidu explained: 'Volleyball is not just about developing athletes; it teaches discipline, teamwork, confidence, resilience, and the courage to believe in yourself.' She added: 'I want them to know that where you start should not determine where you finish.'
To build a sustainable future for the sport, Naidu calls on corporate sponsors to fund grassroots programs, sports bodies to modernize facilities, and the media to provide consistent coverage instead of waiting for major tournaments. Looking ahead, Naidu is already targeting the 2027 World Masters Games in Japan, where she aims to fight for gold. She is currently running a BackaBuddy campaign to raise her share of R41,000 for travel, accommodation, and competition expenses, following her personal philosophy: 'Sports are ageless! Life without borders!'
Speaking about mentors who see potential in young athletes, Naidu said: 'They don't just see where you are. They can help you see where you can go.' Driven by the 2026 gSport recognition and an unwavering commitment to her sport, Naidu remains focused on the path ahead. She concluded: 'I want to keep discovering what I am still capable of. I don't think my best chapter is written yet.'