Unheard Stories: Riveting Tales From Poker Mom Radhika Shankar and her better half

Hello poker lovers! In our latest story in the Unheard Stories series, we bring to you the candid tales from the lives of poker players. These conversations are not just about the game, but also about what it takes to make a mark for yourself and the support a player gets from family. This week, we had a conversation with poker mom Radhika Shankar and her husband Shikhar Prasad.

Did you face any objections from your family with regards to playing poker?

When I first started playing, it wasn’t like everyone was very excited about the prospect. My parents had just passed away, which left me with an elder sister, who just turned her head the other way. My non-intrusive aunt is more like a mother and my husband is my pillar of strength. To be honest, I don’t really care about the rest of the world and their opinions. The only worry, which my family had was me taking up poker at a point in my life when I suffered a great personal loss. They were only doubtful whether poker was appropriate when one is grieving due to the loss of a beloved one. I played the game well and cleared their doubts.

What do you think is your biggest hurdle with respect to acceptance from friends and family?

I can’t say specifically, but every poker player has a different story, different circumstances, and hurdles at different levels. There isn’t one major hurdle to pin point. Every player feels their obstacles are the hardest to overcome.

How did you first convey the decision of becoming a full-time poker player to your family?

I just posted a message about it on Facebook a few weeks ago and that is how easy it was.

We also spoke with Radhika Shankar’s husband, Shikhar Prasad who tells us more about the preconceived notions that people have about poker and the battles that his wife has faced.

Prasad says, “As cliched as it sounds, the biggest hurdle to anyone’s success is themselves [sic]. This simple thought logically would imply that if you want/wish for anyone to succeed, you have to purge all biases and pre-conceived notions you may have about poker. By doing this, you clear all external sources of resistance and friction. The only thing Radhika now has to deal with are her own battles and hurdles on her way to evolving as a poker player.”

We look forward to seeing this boss lady play and take home several titles in the near future. Radhika Shankar also featured in our e-magazine’s November edition. Check out her story here. To know more about poker players and their other halves, keep reading GutshotMagazine.com.

Manthra Koliyer

Manthra Koliyer is a writer at Gutshot Magazine. She has an affinity for seeing the world through people’s eyes. With a bubbly fun personality, you can always catch her chatting with anyone she comes across. Holding an English Literature degree from Wilson College, Mumbai, and a Post Graduate Diploma in Journalism from Asian College of Journalism, this pop culture fanatic is ready to take on the world with a pen, paper, and microphone. She also actively works on her personal blog called namasteyconvict.blogspot.com, where for a moment she lets you into her drama-filled world.