The glaring inequalities between women’s and men’s sports reflect the state of India’s sports landscape. For ages, men have been typically seen as torchbearers of sports, while women have been carrying an image of someone who should stay behind doors, and do household chores. Forget about financial disparity, the ratio of men playing sports to women is still heavily in favor of men.

But times are changing fast, India is on a global stage, developing fast, and Indian women athletes are scaling to great heights, with opportunities knocking at their door. Still, their journeys are replete with tales of challenges, not synonymous with men, they have to overcome. Here we highlight challenges and opportunities for Women in Indian Sports.

Challenges Faced by Women in Indian Sports

1. Expectations and Biasness: We don’t need movies to tell us the challenges women face in this country. Especially in sports, which is, to a great extent, seen as a male-only career. Girls are often not encouraged to participate in sports because the society emphasizes getting married and taking care of family rather than considering athletic goals. A lack of support from families, especially in rural areas, ends a promising career.

2. Unavailability of Essential Resources: The stark difference between men and female sports ecosystem in India is the lack of dedicated resources. There are not many training facilities in 2nd and lower tier cities in India that cater to women sports. The rural areas are the worst affected ones, where even simple amenities, such as proper grounds, equipment, and professional guidance, are lacking in abundance.

3. Financial Constraint: For most aspiring female athletes, money is the biggest issue. In a big family, when it comes to supporting the children in sport, boys, almost all the time, wins the battle at home. Then, there’s a matter of sponsorship in women’s sports. Women in Indian sports have to contend with a severe lack of sponsorship deals and endorsement compared to men’s sports.

4. Lack Of Media Coverage: How many times have we seen an Indian woman football player doing an advertisement on TV? Even women cricketers face a lot of discrimination compared to the male counterparts who are held as gods. This is down to media creating perceptions that it’s a male dominated society where role models can only be men. The less media provides exposure to a particular sport, the more stereotypes are encouraged, and ultimately, opportunities for sponsorships decline.

5. Safety Issues: The biggest deterrent for parents in India when it comes to supporting girls in sports is the safety issue. It’s a very sensitive topic, which can’t be ignored at all. Even in the big metro cities female players face a lot of security issues, especially when they have to travel and stay away from home while training. Harassment and abuse cases are often covered up, thus discouraging many parents from allowing their girls to pick sport as a career. There is also the lack of an effective system in solving such concerns.

Also Read: Challenges in Youth Sports Academies In India

Opportunities for Women in Indian Sports

Despite all the challenges and negative points we highlighted, the Indian sports landscape is transforming. Here is a list of positive aspects of the increasing opportunities for women in Indian sports.

1. Rising Role Models: In recent times, we have seen a whole lot of Indian women athletes, such as PV Sindhu, Mary Kom, Mithali Raj, Smriti Mandhana, among others have changed the narrative around women sports in India. Their success at the international stage has proved that gender is no barrier to success. Their stories inspire numerous young girls and make them dream big and pursue sports as a viable career.

2. Government Initiatives: Indian government is also playing a big role in helping women sports. They have launched many initiatives in the country to support women’s sports. Programs like Khelo India and Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao specifically aim to increase the participation of female players. Even in rural SAI centers, arrangements are being improved for women athletes to get quality facilities.

3. Media and Social Media Impact: The rise of social media platforms have also made it easier for female athletes to showcase their talents. It’s easy for female athletes now to get their voice heard and connect with audiences directly. Through social media, women athletes can build their personal brands and share their journeys, ultimately attracting sponsors.

4. Women’s Professional Leagues: The rise of Indian Premier League (IPL) changed the Indian sports landscape forever. The immense success of IPL showed that professional leagues is the way forward. After IPL, Indian Super Leagues (ISL) and Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) were also launched and both teams are hugely successful. Women’s professional leagues are also increasing in numbers. We have Women’s IPL, and Women’s Football League and there are news that Premier Badminton League is likely to be revived in the near future.

5. Education and Awareness: With the awareness of the benefits that come with playing sports – people are encouraging more female to participate and pick sports as a career. Educational institutions are also playing a huge role by offering scholarships and better facilities to female athletes.

Also Read: How Technology can solve communication gaps in Indian sports?

Conclusion

The journey for women in Indian sports is one of resilience and determination, navigating challenges while seizing opportunities. With a growing number of role models earning big sponsorship deals, and new policies supporting women helping change social narrative around women in Indian sports, the future holds immense promise.

The biggest change that India need to see should come at the rural level. Parents should be educated that sports is another career opportunity like choosing an MBA degree. Also, there should be a more robust system when it comes to safety measures for women.

The rise of women in Indian sports is not just a win for gender equality—it’s a testament to the unyielding spirit of those who dare to dream beyond limitations.

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