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CHALLENGING THE NORMS: THE SILENT BATTLE OF INDIAN WOMEN IN SPORTS

 

CHALLENGING THE NORMS: THE SILENT BATTLE OF INDIAN WOMEN IN SPORTS


August 7th, 2024 would go down in Indian history as the time when a strong, irrepressible, and buoyant Indian sportswoman would be remembered as the one whose struggle to bring glory to the country failed by a hairline. Vinesh Phogat was disqualified from the Paris Olympics 2024 from the wrestling championship because she was overweight by a mere 100 grams. She was cheered, backed up, and celebrated across the nation for the many hats she donned and the fighting spirit she has.

Now let’s turn back the pages of history and visit the era between the 1940s to 1950s. Hamida Banu, known as the “Amazon of Aligarh”, the village near Aligarh where she was born, was the first undefeated Indian women wrestler. In the times when wrestling was a male dominated sport, she broke the norms by proposing to marry the wrestler who would defeat her. She travelled to many cities announcing the challenge and never was defeated once. Her male contestants either bowed out, refused to wrestle, or endured a painful defeat. Towards the 1950s, she defeated a Russian women wrestler and planned to show her prowess and strength in the European sports arenas. Before she could claim the title overseas, she vanished totally from the sports scene.

Indian women in sports have come a long way since that era fighting many barriers, scrutinies, and challenges. Helsinki Olympic Games 1952 was the first year when women in India made a grand entry into the international sports world. Mary D’Souza, Nilima Ghose, Dolly Nazir and Leela Ramkrishna were the proud women pioneers. They were the proud first four women participants along with 60 male participants. Paris Olympics 2024 had a ratio of 59:41 of men and women competitors.


The country has come a long way from the time when women in sports were frowned upon to many sports institutions running courses specifically designed to promote women's participation, their nourishment, funding for their training, and opportunities for suitable employment. Institutes like Sports Authority of India (SAI), Lakshmibai Physical Education of India, National Institute of Sports(NIS), Bangalore Football Club, Tata Archery Academy, Mittal Champions Trust, and Padukone- Dravid Center for Sports Excellence are just a few names amongst the list of these institutions. The Indian Army, Indian Railways, and numerous government organizations offer better chances of employment for women excelling in any sports arena and encourage their growth and development through various means. 


Seeking to encourage women talent in sports many renowned Indian companies are coming forward with scholarships, training, and campaigns. ONGC not only offers employment to sportswomen but also offers scholarships and financial assistance. Tata Group runs Tata Archery Academy, whereas JSW Group runs Inspire Institute of Sports in Karnataka, offering state-of-the-art training facilities in many fields. Reliance Group one of the biggest industries in India, through their Young Champs Program is helping young female football players and other young sports talents with not only training but also exposure in the international arena.


These are just a handful of examples of how much India has progressed 
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