To hell with male chauvinism

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Sania Mirza’s accusation that All India Tennis Association’s handling of the Olympics selection reeked of male chauvinism has rekindled the debate of gender discrimination in sports.

Even the founder of the modern Olympics, Baron Pierre de Coubertin, said in 1896, “No matter how toughened a sportswoman may be, her organism is not cut out to sustain certain shocks.” Since then, gender equality in sports has come a long way.

Sania’s jibe is just the tip of the iceberg as women in other sports too are going through torrid times. Shuttle star Jwala Gutta has been fighting for a while against the alleged step-motherly treatment of the Badminton Association of India.

In squash, Joshna Chinnappa had to win a “court battle” against the Squash Rackets Federation of India that banned her for “indiscipline” and more recently 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 also 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 has been quoted as saying.

Recently, the National Commission for Women wrote to sports minister Ajay Maken alleging discrimination in acknowledging the contribution of women.

The letter was sent when the BCCI disbursed Rs 70 crore from the IPL surplus as a one-time payment benefit to 160 former international and domestic players who retired prior to 2004.

Slamming the BCCI for ignoring the effort of women, former players led by veteran Diana Edulji went up in arms. Ex-India cricketer Susan Pallikal, mother of Dipika, says, “Why should there be discrimination?

A woman is second to none. If former male players are entitled to payment, women should also get it. We also represented the country with pride. We are not competing with men, just asking for our rights.”

And the discrimination is not only in prize money. While men cricketers get even more attention than they need — for instance, every move of cancer-stricken Yuvraj Singh has been lapped up as news, and his oft-repeated statements like ‘I want to play in the T20 World Cup’, get such wide coverage — women athletes have to shine that extra bit for them to get noticed. And when they are injured or sick, no one bothers about them. Will this ever change?

Dipika Pallikal: India’s No. 1 squash player and World No. 15. The Squash Rackets Federation of India showed no interest to recommend her for the Arjuna award even after she became the first Indian to break into world top 15.

Not so fair!

PT Usha: Olympian and winner of four Asian Games gold medals broke down in front of media in 2009 when she was asked to share accommodation with five others during the national championship in Bhopal.

Jwala Gutta: India’s No. 1 doubles player in badminton lashed out at the Badminton Association of India president V.K. Verma after winning the Commonwealth Games gold medal for not even congratulating her.