Is Male Chauvinism Part of Indian Sports?

Further, Shuttler Jwala Gutta has backed Sania Mirza’s claim that male chauvinism is part of Indian sports. “All India Tennis Association (AITA) should have consulted Sania before taking the decision. It’s shocking the way they dealt with the entire episode. The association should have called the players and everybody’s opinion would have mattered,” Jwala told NDTV.

Jwala added that “It not only brings bad name for tennis, but bad name to the way the whole system works.”

But Sania’s dig is just the tip of the iceberg as women in other sports too are going through stifling times. For instance in squash, Joshna Chinnappa had to win a “court battle” against the Squash Rackets Federation of India that banned her for “indiscipline” and more lately the federation showed no interest in recommending Dipika Pallikal’s name for the Arjuna Award despite the Chennai girl’s landmark achievement of becoming the first Indian in world top 15. She even helped India win their first gold in Asian championship.

“It’s always been there. I have suffered the same way. It is quite ridiculous. We have so many female athletes, big names who have done really well in sports. Many might be afraid to take up sports as a career,” Jwala was quoted as saying.