Modern Age Women Raising Bars in Indian Sports
August 2019 has been an action-packed one! India saw two women raising bars in the sports arena. While Aishwarya Pissay became the first ever Indian to bring home world title in motorsports, Padma Shri Deepa Malik became a recipient of Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award on the other hand.
India is proud of such women who defy stereotypes as there was a time when sports was a male-dominated arena. However, gone are those days! Women’s participation in sports have increased by many folds. According to Nielson Women’s Sport Research 2018, 83% of sports fan are interested in Women’s Sports. Over the years, women have been doing wonders and have come at par with men on and off the field.
In 2016, a woman carved history by becoming the first Indian parathlete to win a medal at Paralympics held at Rio. It is Deepa Malik, who also is first ever paraplegic woman biker, car rallyist, swimmer, social activist and entrepreneur. Her patriotism to serve the tricolor motivated her to win 23 international medals and 68 national and state-level medals. She was conferred with Arjuna Award in 2012, Padma Shri in 2017 and would be receiving Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award this year. What a journey! She truly deserves all the recognition. Deepa Malik is a woman on mission who has contributed a lot by inspiring the challenged ones to come forward and empowered women through sports. Deepa Malik came as Chief Guest in the ninth convocation ceremony of PGP students of IISM. We can only say that she is epitome of hard work, goodwill strength and endeavour, an inspiring person who leaves only positive vibes all around.
Another gem from our country, Aishwarya Pissay, has engraved India in the global motorsport map by winning the FIM World Cup 2019. She is blooming since she has made her passion, a career. This courageous biker has won FIM Baja Rally World Cup in Junior Category and is 6 times National Road Racing & Rally Champion. She is the first Indian female biker to qualify for Baja Aragon Rally. However, she suffered a crash and now her breakthrough comeback has become history!
India is celebrating remarkable achievements of women who have changed the face of Indian sports landscape. Sportsperson like P. T. Usha, Sania Mirza, Saina Nehwal, Mary Kom, P V Sindhu, Geeta Phogat, Anjali Bhagwat, Hima Das, Aparna Popat, Beenamol, Rahi Sarnobar, Geeta Zutshi, Dipa Karmakar, Mithali Raj, Manu Bhaker, Madhumita Bisht, etc. have taken giant strides in sports and have broken monotony.
Gone are the days when the crowds didn’t roar for women! Women have proved themselves as equals of men. They have left no stones unturned to make the audience feel their presence. The mindset of people is changing as they begin to support sportswomen. However, we hope that one day women’s sports will get equal attraction just like men’s sports do as women deserves recognition considering the efforts, they are putting in. The change will happen! For now, let us all raise a toast to these wonderful women who have set benchmarks by breaking barriers.
