Champions of Heart,Body and Soul

Courtesy: NDTVSports.com

Today is #InternationalWomenEntrepreneursDay (I started writing yesterday). I take pride in sharing my humble thoughts about #WomeninInternationalSports - as #entrepreneurs they also toil hard and #invest their #hearts , #bodies and #souls to #stayinginthegameandwinning !

Since the early days of modern, organized sports, women have fought for #equityinsports , from equal wages among male and female athletes to simply the right to take the field.

The ideal Victorian woman was gentle and frail, and any form of strenuous activity was strongly discouraged. Myths surrounding women included those that women could harm their reproductive organs if they participated in sports, which would make them unattractive to men, and that they only had a finite amount of energy in their bodies, and wasting that energy on sports or higher education would lead to weak offspring.?

Differences of Sex Development (DSD) or Sex testing in sport has been around since the early 1930s. World Athletics?first started?sex testing in female athletes at the European Championships in 1950. The reason given was a fear amongst organisers and fans that men with a physical advantage would cheat and participate as women.

While equal access to opportunity in sports is guaranteed under law, the fight for true equality continues to this day.

“Sex testing violates a range of internationally protected fundamental rights including to privacy, dignity, health, non-discrimination, freedom from ill-treatment, and employment rights.”

Despite barriers, women have fought — and continue to fight — to be seen as equal in their athletic capabilities. If the sporting world wants to be a force of progressive change, it has to move forward to effect change. Sport needs to look inward at the ways in which it remains a discriminatory field for many. It is high time for sport to change its ways in this regard.?

Positive Change heralded by BCCI is a sure shot departure from old practices and is a milestone for Indian Women Criketers:

October 27th, 2022

15th BCCI Apex Council meeting: BCCI implements pay equity policy for Women Cricketers?

The Board for Control of Cricket in India (BCCI) on Thursday announced implementing pay equity policy for its contracted Women cricketers. In the 15th BCCI Apex Council meeting held via video conference, the members passed the resolution unanimously.

Mr. Roger Binny, President, BCCI, said:?“In our Apex Council meeting today, we have made a marquee decision on pay equity for our women cricketers. Our women players will be paid the same match fees as men in international cricket. This decision sets the platform to grow and develop cricket. I believe this is a significant step forward for women’s cricket and the game overall.”??

Change from antiquated beliefs and practices is coming, sportpersons like Manika Batra are leading this transition.

12 Phenomenal Female Athletes Who Are Changing The Game Every Time They Play:

Sania Mirza (Tennis), Mary Kom (Boxing), Mithali Raj (Cricket), Saina Nehwal (Badminton), Geeta Phogat (Wrestling), Sakshi Malik (Wrestling), PV Sindhu (Badminton), Deepika Kumari (Archery), Dipa Karmakar (Gymnastics), Tania Sachdev (Chess), Rani Rampal (Hockey), Deepika Pallikal (Squash)

As the world moves to make itself more #inclusive to all people, regardless of their race, gender, sexual identity, ability or any other identity marker, the sporting world needs to keep pace. By imposing such rigid standards, the sporting world is excluding potential athletes at both the grassroots and elite levels who may not conform to traditional gender identities.

Content Courtesy: https://www.sportanddev.org/ ; https://kinesiology.csp.edu/; https://www.bcci.tv/ ; https://www.scoopwhoop.com/