International Women’s Day: Indian sports serves as a big tool in empowering lady athletes

Women in sports in India is no longer symbolic. On International Women’s Day (March 8), it is worth showering praise on how young girls and women are attempting to make a mark in sports, be it as an athlete, coach or even someone in administration. Compared to the previous generations of India’s fair sex in sports, it was symbolic. Of course, there were legends who emerged from track and field like PT Usha and Anju Bobby George, and, not to forget, Ironwoman Karnam Malleswari.

Today, the focus is on empowering women in sports at every level. The pyramid structure, starting from the base has grown and credit for this should be given to all those who are involved in sports as athletes as well as those who have a role to play in administration, governance and ideation. When Usha was sweeping medals in Usha in the 80s and Anju was breaking a new ground by winning a long jump medal at the World Championship over two decades back, it was freakish. Why, had it not been for Malleswari’s bronze medal at the Sydney Olympics 25 years ago, India would have returned empty-handed.

There have been many pioneers, some fighting so hard despite hardships. Not everyone Indian girl is going to win an Olympic medal but there are those who have shown in the Asian Games, World Championship, Commonwealth Games and more events, they can deliver. Some of these women have star power, even today, well past their active sporting careers. Anyone who follows Sania Mirza on social media will agree she is a massive influence maker. At the same time, she has kept the engagements meaningful as well as viable for herself, commercially.

Women in sports in India is seeing a spurt, a growth. At a time when the lament is obesity, lifestyle diseases and what not due to a sedentary lifestyle, there is a crying need for lazy slouches to bounce off the chairs. Sports is not about everyone going to make it big. The dreams may be big, but realising it is a challenge. One needs to clap for chess champion P.Vaishali that on International Women’s Day, she gets to post from the social media handle of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It tells you about a change in mindset and the importance being accorded to a young girl whose skills in chess are sublime.

As one who has witnessed a sea change in Indian sports since the mid 80s, what is happening today is path breaking. Yes, there is immense pressure on academics and finding the right balance in sports as a career. What needs to be emphasised is there is a paradigm shift for sure. Girls are being encouraged to take up sports. Wrestling, hockey, shooting, tennis, cricket, the possibilities are endless. No one can say, an opportunity is not being provided by the state, at grassroot level or the national level. A beginning made in right earnest has seen growth.

If you do a random sampling of sporting champions of India, the variety is massive. Girls and women have become champion symbols, be it MC Mary Kom, Sakshi Malik, Manu Bhaker, PV Sindhu or a Savita Punia. Each one of them is a path-breaker and has made rapid strides against all odds. For those who believe India as a society was not encouraging women in every field, the change has begun. It is not just one day, called International Women’s Day which is defining. There is a collective and conscious effort to ensure more growth takes place.

A quick glance will show how there are more sporting leagues today for women in hockey, cricket and a few more sports. The scope for more growth exists. And with one young girl named Manu Bhaker becoming so popular, courtesy her twin-medal exploits in the Paris 2024 Olympics, more Indian girls can dare, dream and do the unthinkable. To each athlete in the girl child or woman, this is your day. We celebrate it.