It Is Time To Speak Up

Sexual harassment and gender bias continue to exist in Indian sport

- Akshay Sawai

WOMEN'S sport has grown in profile and acceptance in India in recent years. The multi-crore Women's Premier League T20, launched this year, and the emergence of female stars in various sports, like Mary Kom, Saina Nehwal, PV Sindhu, Mithali Raj and Smriti Mandhana, is proof of the improving health of Indian women's sports.

But from the point of view of gender dynamics, men still call the shots. This is evident in the case of the wrestlers' protest, where prominent female fighters like Sakshi Malik and Vinesh Phogat (supported by Bajrang Punia) took on the might of the Wrestling Federation of India chief, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. Ordinarily, it should have been a knockout win for the wrestlers, given their achievements and the seriousness of their accusations against Singh. But it is only now, after months of digging in their heels, that their grievances were properly heard by the sports minister, Anurag Thakur.

It is no surprise therefore, that at national and junior level events, girls' sports still receives callous treatment.

A few days ago, a teenage girls' cricket team arrived in Phulambri, Aurangabad, for a tournament. The accommodation was bare. But as long as basic necessities like clean water were taken care of, the players thought they could deal with it. Then someone reached for the tap, but there was no water.

Another person tried another tap. The result was the same. None of the creaky faucets in the rooms had anything to offer to the tired girls, many of whom were having their periods. Ultimately, the players had to fetch water from a nearby well. And to think Indian cricket is flush with cash.