Paper-15. Module-4 Women & Sports in -An Overview. I. (A) Personal Details Role Name Affiliation Principal Prof. Sumita Allahabad University, Investigator Parmar Allahabad Paper Dr. Sabu CWDS, New Coordinator George & Centre for Women’s Dr. Studies, Allahabad Kumudini University-Associate Pati Content Prof. Lakshmibai National Writer/Author Jayashree Institute of Physical (CW) Acharya Education, Gwalior Content Prof. Sumita Allahabad University, Reviewer (CR) Parmar Allahabad Language Editor Dr. Sonal Consultant Editor (LE) Parmar

(B) Description of Module

Items Description of Module Subject Name Women’s Studies Paper Name The Stories the States Tell Module Name/ Women & Sports in India- Title An Overview

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Module ID Paper-15. Module-4 Pre-requisites The Reader is expected to have some knowledge of sport and the importance of sport in the life of women Objectives To make the reader understand the status of women participating in sports , view of the society , and ways and means to improve the sport culture among Indian women Keywords Sports Women, Feminine female, Masculine female, Gender bias

Women Sport in India- An Overview Introduction Sport, Society and Women “Women in Sports” has been a topic virtually ignored by scholars and others, thus female sport participation has been a relatively undeveloped area of research more so for Indian women athletes. Sex-role stereotyping, male research bias and the reward structure of society have contributed to this neglect.

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Sport in India is yet to reach its peak. The Mughals ruled India for centuries, the Britishers for another one and a half-century. It was only after 1947, when we achieved independence that we started developing as a modern nation, with special rights to half of its citizens namely women. Indian women are still trying to establish their own identity. Women in India are still unable to take a stand for themselves. Times are changing and improving but there is still a lot to be achieved. Sport is an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment. In most of the societies in the world, men have dominated as decision makers within families as well as in various public spaces and it’s the same in India. The dearth of information becomes almost desperate when one seeks to investigate women’s sports before the emergence of Greek civilization. Historical Perspective of Women Sport Participation The history of sports in India dates back to the Vedic era. Physical culture in ancient India was fuelled by religious rights. The mantra in the Atharvaveda, says, "Duty is in my right hand and the fruits of victory in my left." In terms of an ideal, these words hold the same sentiments as the traditional Olympic Oath: "For the Honour of my Country and the Glory of Sport." Surveying the historical record in which man have traditionally figured as movers and shakers while women have often been dismissed with a few remarks about the domestic sphere, feminist scholars speak of women’s “invisibility”.

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“The documentary evidence for the lives of women in antiquity is fragmentary and difficult to interpret” says Guttmann (1991). The unquestioned presumption of the absolute physical inferiority of girls and women relative to boys and men has been used as methods of restricting female participation in many sports. Several myths and ill-founded arguments proposed for limiting athletic activity are also being used with respect to occupational activity. “The practice of physical education and sport is a fundamental right for all.” —UNESCO International Charter of Physical Education and Sport, article 1 Sport and physical activity were first specifically recognized as a human right in the International Charter of Physical Education and Sport, adopted in 1978 by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The Charter states: “One of the essential conditions for the effective exercise of human rights is that everyone should be free to develop and preserve his or her physical, intellectual, and moral powers, and that access to physical education and sport should consequently be assured and guaranteed for all human beings.” Evolution of women and sport

The first Olympic Games of the modern era in 1896 were not open to women. But since this time, the participation of women in the Olympic Movement at all levels has changed considerably: it fully represents the values of our modern society worldwide.

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This evolution has taken place within a favourable social, political and cultural framework in which women's issues started to be addressed, and led to major action and regulations that recognized and defended women's rights at all levels of society. Women competed for the first time at the 1900 Games in Paris. Of a total of 997 athletes, 22 women competed in five sports: tennis, sailing, croquet, equestrianism and golf. Access to sport was included in international instruments and documents that the United Nations and other institutions approved and promoted in the 1970s and 1980s. Sport and physical activities have been recognized as having a positive impact on health and as being a tool to eliminate socially constructed gender stereotypes. The Olympic Movement and the sports community at large have followed this movement and progressively undertaken initiatives to allow broader participation by women in sports in general. More sports and disciplines have been opened up to women at all levels and in most countries of the world. In the last 20 years especially, the IOC has pressed for the women's programme at the Olympic Games to be enlarged, in cooperation with the respective International Sports Federations (IFs) and the Organizing Committees for the Olympic Games (OCOGs). This development has been further reinforced by the IOC's decision that all sports seeking inclusion in the programme must include women's events. The IOC also started to work on women's involvement at leadership level in sport in 1981, under the initiative of former President Juan Antonio

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Samaranch, who wanted to have women co-opted as IOC members. As a result, 24 members out of 107 are women. The Olympic Charter was amended to include, for the first time in history, an explicit reference to the need for work in this area: "The IOC encourages and supports the promotion of women in sport at all levels and in all structures, with a view to implementing the principle of equality of men and women." Rule 2, paragraph 7, Olympic Charter in force as from 07.07.2007 Following International Women’s Day on 8 March, Anita DeFrantz, Chairwoman of the IOC’s Women and Sport Commission and an IOC member, spoke at the 57th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women at the United Nations headquarters earlier this week to explain the role of sport in the vitally important effort to eliminate and prevent violence against women and girls in the world. “Violence against women and girls is endemic to nearly all societies, and it takes many forms, both physical and psychological”, said DeFrantz. She added: “Violence is at the extreme end of a continuum that includes gender-based discrimination, taunts and sexual harassment. We cannot eradicate violence against women without eradicating the discriminatory attitudes that condone or even encourage it. Sport and its values are valuable tools to address and improve self-esteem, body control, leadership and

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assertiveness - all being elements which can contribute to tackle violence.”

Fighting sexual harassment and sexual abuse in sport DeFrantz (2013) also explained that sport itself may be affected by violence against women and girls: “Unfortunately, the world of sport is not immune to the problem that we are here to address, or to the behaviours that lead to gender-based violence. The IOC has been at the forefront of efforts to eliminate sexual harassment and sexual abuse in sport. Its commitment to this issue is fully aligned with the IOC’s belief that the practice of sport is a human right that cannot be denied on the basis of gender, race or sexual orientation. The Olympic Charter declares that ‘every individual must have the possibility of practicing sport, without discrimination’.” No single solution DeFrantz concluded: “Sport has an important role to play in preventing violence against women and girls. It is not the only answer. There is no single solution to the pervasive problem of gender-based violence. Eliminating and preventing violence against women and girls will require deploying all available assets, including sport. It will require more cooperation and partnerships among individuals and organizations with a commitment to this cause. It will require assistance from governments and educational institutions. While being mindful of the many

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challenges that women face to access sport and to eradicate gender-based violence in sport, the International Olympic Committee is committed to this effort and will continue to work within sport, and with partners outside sport, to promote the cause of gender equality and eliminate sexual harassment, abuse and violence. Together, we can make a difference and provide a brighter future for our daughters, granddaughters and generations to come.” (IOC’s initiatives in this field here www.olympic.org/sha and herehttp://sha.olympic.org.) International processes

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) plays a central leadership role in the world of sport, and its policies set standards in international, regional and national sporting events and procedures. In 1994, it requested that the Olympic Charter be amended to include an explicit reference to the need for action on women and sport. This is reflected in the current Charter, adopted in 2004, which states that one of the roles of the Committee is to “encourage and support the promotion of women in sport at all levels and in all structures with a view to implementing the principle of equality of men and women.” In 1995, the International Olympic Committee established a Working Group on Women and Sport, which was elevated to the status of a Commission in 2004. The Women and Sport Commission, which meets once a year, monitors the

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participation of women in the Olympics as well as their representation in decision-making. The Commission organizes quadrennial IOC World Conferences on Women and Sport to assess progress made in women and sport within the Olympic Movement, define priority actions and increase the involvement of women. The International Working Group on Women and Sport, an independent coordinating body of government organizations, aims to be a catalyst for the advancement and empowerment of women and sport globally. It was established in 1994 at the First World Conference on Women and Sport, held in Brighton, United Kingdom, organized by the British Sports Council and supported by the International Olympic Committee. At this conference, the Brighton Declaration was adopted and endorsed by the 280 delegates from 82 countries representing Governments, NGOs, National Olympic Committees, international and national sport federations, and educational and research institutions. The Second International Working Group on Women and Sport World Conference on Women and Sport took place in Windhoek, Namibia, in 1998.The Windhoek Call for Action further developed the aims of the Brighton Declaration, calling for  the promotion of sport as a means to realize broader goals in health, education and women’s human rights.  Eliminating and preventing violence against women and girls through sport

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 Fighting sexual harassment and sexual abuse in sport Research Overview of Female Athletes Over the past several decades the role of females in modern society has expanded and changed dramatically. However, stereotypes do still exist -- especially in areas such as sport. Accordingly, the perceptions of female athletes and the influences that gender, type of sport (masculine vs. feminine), and athletic identity (athlete vs. non-athlete) play on these perceptions were evaluated. Results suggest that female athletes competing in sports viewed as masculine were rated as less likeable than those competing in feminine sports. Athletic identity, however, did play a role with athletes providing overall higher ratings of female athlete likeability than non-athletes. Male participants rated female athletes competing in masculine sports as less respectable than those competing in feminine sports, while females rated female athletes participating in masculine sports as more respectable. Participant athletic identity, ratings of female athlete athleticism, and perceived attractiveness demonstrated no significant relationship with perceptions of gender role orientation. Implications and directions for future research are discussed. Acharya et al (2014) A “Recent research on gender based analysis of sport goal orientation, coping skills and participation motivation of south indian athletes” (55 male and 45 female) is worth quoting as no gender based difference was seen in the psychological skill of coping with adversity, goal setting, freedom from worry, concentration, confidence, achievement motivation and

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‘coachability’. No difference was seen in achievement status, team orientation and skill development between male and female athletes. But in the participation motivation significant gender based differences was seen in fitness orientation, energy release situational factors, friendship and fun and it was the male athletes who were on higher scale in comparison to female athletes, thus indicating more encouragement for male athlete than female athletes. Although many of the clinical trials and epidemiological studies in health research have excluded women, the data available suggest that women derive many health benefits from an active lifestyle(Oglesby and Carole , 2006). The health benefits of women’s participation in physical activity and sport are now well established. Participation in sport and physical activity can prevent a myriad of non-communicable diseases which account for over 60 per cent of global deaths,66 per cent of which occur in developing countries(WHO, 2007a). For girls, it can have a positive impact on childhood health, as well as reduce the risk of chronic diseases in later life. For older women, it can contribute to the prevention of cardiovascular diseases,which account for one third of deaths among women around the world and half of all deaths among women over 50 in developing countries(WHO, 2007b). Physical activity also helps to reduce the effects of osteoporosis, which women have a higher risk of developing than men (United Nations Inter- Agency Task Force on Sport for Development and Peace

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,2003). Participation in physical activity aids in the prevention and/or treatment of other chronic and degenerative diseases associated with aging, such as type-2 diabetes, hypertension, arthritis,osteoporosis and cardiovascular abnormalities. It also helps in the management of weight and contributes to the formation and maintenance of healthy bones, muscles and joints. Physical activity can reduce the incidence of falls among older women.An important role of physical activity in the life of older women lies in prolonging independence. Much of the physical decline that was presumed an inevitable consequence of aging is now thought to be the result of inactivity.While no one can guarantee that exercise will prolong life, it can enhance the quality of life for older women who value their independence (Oglesby and Carole , 2006) . The benefits for women and girls with disabilities are also well established. It has been noted that sport provides a double benefit to women with disabilities by providing affirmations of self-empowerment at both personal and collective levels (Guthrie and Castelnuovo, 2001) . Apart from enhancing health, wellness and quality of life, participation in physical activity and sport develops skills such as teamwork, goal-setting, the pursuit of excellence in performance and other achievement-oriented behaviours that women and girls with disabilities may not be exposed to in other contexts (Oglesby and Carole, 2006). Participation in sport and physical activity can also facilitate good mental health for women of all ages, including the management of mental disorders such as

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Alzheimer’s disease. It can promote psychological well- being through building self-esteem, confidence and social integration, as well as help reduce stress, anxiety, loneliness and depression. This is particularly important as rates of depression among women are almost double those of men in both developed and developing countries (WHO, 2007c). Promotion of Sports and Physical Education among Women as an Initiative from Govt. Of India Promotion of Sports and Physical Education among Women The scheme is meant to encourage women by giving them attractive incentives in the form of scholarships for furthering their achievements in studies and career in sports. A scholarship of Rs.6000/ per annum is available to those who have emerged champions in the National Women Championships (Senior) conducted by recognized national sports federations according to international rules Women who are holding any other scholarship under a sports scheme of the Union or State Government are not eligible for this scholarship. They have to opt for any one scholarship only. The scholarships are also not available to those who are enrolled in the residential sports coaching programmes of the Sports Authority of India, State Governments.(or its agencies), voluntary bodies, public/private sector enterprises and to those who are employed.

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All women holding a master's degree in physical education from a recognized university, who are undergoing the diploma course in Sports Coaching at NIS are eligible to get a scholarship of Rs. 1800/ per course. Scholarship of Rs.1800/ per annum is also given to all women holding master's degree in physical education in a college having status at par with LNCPE, Gwalior, The scholarship is available only for one year to those doing M.Phil and to those doing Ph.D in physical education, the scholarship is available upto a period of 3 years. (l) National Sports Festival for Women The 'National Sports Festival for Women', first organized in 1975, has now become a significant national competition for women. The programme is organized by the Sports Authority of India. For the purpose of lower level competitions, financial assistance is made available to the States @ Rs. 1,000/ for block, Rs. 3,000/ for district and Rs.10,000/ for State level tournaments (for bigger States) and Rs.5,000/ for smaller States/UTs. (2) Evaluation of Sports Schemes During 1994-95, the schemes of Sports Authority of India; viz National Sports Talent Contest, Army Boys Sports Company, special Project Development Area. Special Area Games, National Coaching Scheme and Sports Hostel Scheme have been evaluated by Tata Consultancy Services and the reports submitted to Govt. are being considered for implementation. Sports schemes of the Deptt. are also proposed to be taken up for evaluation

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National Sports Festival for Women The National Sports Festival for Women, first organized in 1975 as a part of the celebrations connected with the International Women's Year, is now an important annual feature of the country's sports calendar. It involves participation of about 2,000 young women from all over the country in ten sports disciplines namely, Athletics, Basketball, Badminton, Gymnastics, Hockey, Kabaddi, Kho-Kho, Lawn Tennis, Table Tennis and Volleyball. The festival is being organized on agency basis by the Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports, on behalf of the Government of India.

An increase of women in leadership positions in sport can also have a significant influence on social attitudes towards women’s capabilities as leaders and decision makers.

Promoting girls’ education through sport A UNICEF project links sport to girls’ education based on the belief that sport, like education, can help girls become equal players in society. On 11 October 2003, Global Girls’ Football Day, UNICEF country offices and the National Associations of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) came together to mobilize efforts for girls’ education through the power of sport. That same year, FIFA dedicated its Women’s World Cup to UNICEF’s Go Girls! Education for Every Child campaign. Go Girls! was seen and heard throughout the tournament in a variety of ways—from stadium announcements and video screenings to match programmes and web pages.

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Why sports culture should be highlighted Some of the research also suggests that being involved in sports may raise the employability level of young people by developing specific ‘core’ and ‘soft’ skills. In India, we are nowhere near major sporting nations like Germany, USA or Australia in the sporting arena, but the growth and development over the last 5-7 years is quite promising.

Sports companies catering to grassroot coaching and sponsorships are mushrooming everywhere. One important aspect which needs due attention, specially by coaching companies who are working with young children, is to educate parents and other stakeholders about sports and its benefits. Nowadays there is self-realization among parents that there is considerable lack of physical activities for their children, so their core objective is to address that aspect when they are enrolling their children to any training centre.

As per studies by different government agencies currently, approximately only 0.06 per cent of the Indian population exercises on a regular basis; the average cardiac attack age in India is 25-30 years, and every third child is suffering from obesity. To make the situation even more alarming , it is highlighted by a recent government research that children are spending 7.2 hours studying (no physical activity) against only 39 minutes playing any sports in a day. According to the estimate of the Planning Commission of India, by 2016 India will have approximately 510 million

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people in the age group of 15 to 35 years, making India the youngest population in world which is not healthy. Sports education for sports development in India The government has made sports and physical education mandatory in the curriculum but it lacks the required motivation and drive from the administrators. There can be many reasons and factors for this, but one important reason which is very visible is the lack of sports understanding. That is where companies and coaches need to come in with structured Sports Education Programs for parents and other important stakeholders in respective schools and communities to make them understand the different facets and benefits of sports as a career option. Such programs will help school and college administrators to understand and relate to the commitments required by any sportsperson to play at the professional level.

The second phase of Sport Education Development is to make corporates aware about soft skills, which a normal sportsperson inculcates during his/her playing days. Technical and productivity-related training can be arranged by the corporates to accommodate sportsperson on their rolls. Such Sports Education Programs designed for corporates will help them to understand sports in a holistic manner, and every new opportunity created in the corporate sector will give encouragement to new generations to take sports more seriously and professionally.

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Sports pathway in India Sports education should start at the kindergarten level where children can be introduced to the concept of what is sports, then fun time with sports and then the various other aspects. The program needs to be audio-visual and needs to involve parents and teachers together. Sports education is required more than ever as more people have started becoming aware of sports compared to the situation 10-15 years ago. Sports Education Programs need due attention of all stakeholders in sports. Many people may think that sports is just a casual time-pass activity or a way to be fit, but in reality, sports is a way to live life.

Benefits of Sports Participation for Girls and Women  High school girls who play sports are less likely to be involved in other unwanted activities, more likely to get better grades in school and more likely to graduate than girls who do not play sports.

 Girls and women who play sports have a more positive body image and experience higher states of psychological well-being than girls and women who do not play sports.

 As little as four hours of exercise a week may reduce a teenage girl’s risk of breast cancer by up to 60%; breast cancer is a disease that afflicts one out of every eight American women. (Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 1994)

 Forty percent of women over the age of 50 suffer from osteoporosis (brittle bones). (Osteoporosis, 1996) None of

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us should want our daughters to repeat the experiences of generations of women—our mothers and grandmothers— who were not permitted to play sports or encouraged to participate in weight-bearing exercises that are necessary to establishing bone mass.

 Girls and women who play sports have higher levels of confidence and self-esteem and lower levels of depression.

 Sport is where boys have traditionally learned about teamwork, goal-setting, the pursuit of excellence in performance and other achievement-oriented behaviors— critical skills necessary for success in the workplace. In an economic environment where the quality of our children’s lives will be dependent on two-income families, our daughters cannot be less prepared for the highly competitive workplace than our sons. It is no accident that 80% of the female executives at Fortune 500 companies identified themselves as former “tomboys”—having played sports.

A Few Renowned past Athletes and their contributions: P. T. Usha , Athlete : Regarded as one of the greatest athletes India has ever produced and is often called the "queen of Indian track and field" has won more than 101 international medals. P.T. Usha won four gold medals and one silver medal in the track and field events of the 1986 . She was also awarded the trophy for the Best Athlete in the world. Her splendid victories made her a

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household name and brightened the prospects of female athletes in India. The original ‘Golden Girl’ of Indian sports, PT Usha used to bring the nation to a standstill in the 1980s and early 1990s when she would embark on her lung-busting runs with the finish line in sight. A winner of four gold medals (and a silver) at the 1986 Seoul Asian Games, Usha will forever be the first lady of Indian athletics. With an array of 100+ medals from her exploits around the world, sadly PT Usha fell agonizingly short in her quest to add an Olympic medal to her kitty, missing out on a Bronze medal at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics in a photo-finish. The tales of the 'Payyoli Express’ continue to regale text books of school students around the country. Now in her early 50s, PT Usha continues to train the next generation of Indian athletes at the Usha School of Athletics in Kerala.

Shiny Abraham : Won a National Champion in for 14 years. Wilson represented India more than 75 times in international competition. She holds the added distinction of representing Asia in four World Cups; She is also perhaps the only athlete to have taken part in six Asian Track & Field Meets in a row beginning 1985 in . Soma Biswas, Athlete : Rose to fame when she won the silver medal in 2002 Asian Games in Busan, South Korea. She won another silver medal at the 2006 Asian Games in .

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2000 – ’s glorious performance at the Olympics, yet another golden chapter in Indian sports history by becoming the first Indian woman to win an Olympic medal. Malleswari bagged a bronze in the 69 kg category of the weight-lifting championship at Sydney Olympics in 2000. She started the competition with a brave lead where she entered the competition at 105 kgs, while other lifters opted for a 100 kgs weight, and she later went up to 110 kgs over the next two attempts. The first glamour girl of Indian sports, Anjali Bhagwat was a ramp scorcher while the likes of Sania and Saina were still learning their trade. Anjali’s exploits in the shooting world are nothing short of spectacular, with the Maharashtrian having won an incredible 55 Gold medals over the course of her career, including 12 at the Commonwealth Games. While Olympic glory may have also eluded Anjali, she was the world’s best Air Rifle shooter during her prime, winning World Cups and Champion of Champions events galore. She now spends the bulk of her free time training the latest crop of India’s ace shooters.

Anju Bobby George created history and became the first Indian medalist at the Championships, when she took the long jump (6.70 m) bronze in Paris in 2003. Later, in 2005, she won a gold medal at the IAAF World Athletics, which she considers her best performance. Her success brought her from the 61st place in 2001 to the 6th place in the world rankings in 2003. She holds the

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current Indian national record in long jump with her personal best of 6.83 meters.

Women Athlete of the Present time and their views on society and system Preeja Sreedharan (Arjuna Awardee): "I have been on the tracks for around two decades. I toiled hard in these years to better my sporting career. But, on the other side, I got very little times to spend with my family. The national record holder, who grabbed 10,000m gold and 5,000m silver in the 2010 Asian Games, denied that age was a factor in her decision to retire. "I think long distance runners can showcase good performance even after they cross 30 years especially during early and mid 30s. There are many foreign athletes who have done this. This has no connection with my retirement," she said. Preeja said in other countries, women continue to touch new heights even after starting a family but in India, they are more or less expected to quit after marriage. "Majority of us prefer to wrap up our career after marriage. This reflects poorly on our society" . Preeja, however, lamented that Olympic sports continue to be in cricket's shadow despite the athletes bringing laurels for the country. "We win a medal in an international competition like Asian Games or Commonwealth Games or World Championship

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after beating sport stars from different countries. Cricket is a sport popular only in seven countries. But, unfortunately, cricket players are getting much more publicity and support". Heena Sidhu (Pistol shooter) : "In India you can't make a profession out of sport unless you are a cricketer," India's first world number . "When I started out seven, eight years back it was really tough to break through. It's not as if people come marching to your house (demanding you quit), but what society thinks affects the parents and eventually it trickles down to the children," Indian society still has traditional expectations of women.

Geeta Phogat, India's first woman wrestler to qualify for the Olympics, in 2012, said she and others have had to overcome hurdles men simply do not face. "When I started wrestling my family had to face a lot of criticism from community elders," Phogat, said. "People said I would bring only shame to my family, no one would want to marry me," said Phogat, who as a young athlete trained with men in northern India because there were no women wrestlers. "I was told wrestling is a man's sport. But I have proved that women can wrestle and win medals as well," who won gold at the in .

Saina Nehwal "Women in sports have come up in a big way in recent past and I congratulate all of them, including , , Geeta Phogat, Babita Kumari, Heena Sidhu and ," "It is good that women

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power is visible in sports," crediting the central government's sports policies. "I am proud to be World No 1 in badminton. It is really tough to reach the pinnacle in badminton... it took me five years to realise my dream as I became World No 2 in 2010" says , newly crowned world number one, it's been a tough climb to the top in a patriarchal country that has long neglected women athletes. Although badminton is keenly followed in India, cricket has long been the national obsession, overshadowing all other sports and whose male stars command eye-popping sums. "It's difficult to play any other sport in a cricket-mad country, especially if you are a woman," said Nehwal on the sidelines of the Indian Open in New Delhi, a title she clinched after downing Thailand's Ratchanok Intanon. (Hindustan times.com) "But I'm glad mindsets are slowly changing. Girls have started saying that if boys can do it, girls can do it as well".

Anjum Chopra, the former India captain, believes women's cricket hasn't developed as much as it should since being taken over by the BCCI in 2005. However, unlike her predecessor , who squarely blamed the BCCI, Chopra said it was a reflection of reality and of market forces in sport. "I don't blame the BCCI for it. I don't blame them completely. I know it's a big statement but there are reasons,". "Ideally, I would have liked to be in the same boat as men cricketers. But I come from a managerial

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background and I understand finance. So if I say it has to be on the same pedestal, it would be unfair."Anjum is one of the country's most successful women cricketers, having played 12 Tests, 127 ODIs and 18 T20s in a career spanning 17 years. She is the the eighth-highest run-getter in women's ODIs, and has featured in four 50-over World Cups, including the 2005 edition in South Africa, where India reached the final. Anjum also captained India to a Test series win in England, in 2006. Chopra, the first woman cricketer to earn 100 ODI caps, felt it was too much for Indian women's cricket to ask for the same monetary benefits as their male counterparts. "I can ask for the same adulation but I can't ask for the same remuneration. It will take myself and my game some time to reach that level". Jwala Gutta is a left-handed international badminton player from Hyderabad, India. was involved in a controversy had erupted during the August 25 tie of the Indian Badminton League when Delhi Smashers had threatened to pull out against Banga Beats over the last- minute replacement of injured, Hu Yun of Hong Kong with Denmark's Jan Ø. Jørgensen. Jwala was then served a 14- day showcause notice by BAI for her conduct during the tie, which was delayed by half an hour. In a surprise decision, the Badminton Association of India's disciplinary committee recommended a life ban on Jwala for the same. Jwala's coach S. M. Arif advised her to file a defamation suit against BAI for going to press without issuing her a ban notice. " Arif said BFI had repeatedly insulted the player who brought laurels to the country. BAI president Akhilesh Das Gupta had said that if Jwala tenders an

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unconditional apology, her case may be reconsidered. Jwala cleared that she will not apologize as asked by the BAI. Jwala's camp points at two potential reasons for the harsh stand taken by BAI. Blaming even chief coach for "not supporting her" in her hour of need, Jwala said she tried to resolve the issue by talking to everyone in the administration even before the show cause notice was issued. Jwala warned her detractors in her now inimitable style. "I love to play and bring honour to my country. No one on this earth can stop me from playing. In fact, no one should stop anyone from playing. I never thought that they would stoop down to this level."

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Eventually, the Delhi High Court stayed BAI’s decision to not allow Jwala to play. Justice V.K. Jain told the BAI: "You must allow her to play.". During the whole controversy Jwala received overwhelming support from fans and fellow sports-persons. Throwing their weight behind an embattled Jwala Gutta, several former players have described the Badminton Association of India disciplinary committee's recommendation of a life ban on the player as "ridiculous and harsh". Former national coach U. Vimal Kumar says the HC order has shown Indian badminton in bad light. S.M. Arif, was even harsher saying, "The emphasis on her apology rather than the misconduct attributed to her shows clearly that the BAI has gone off the rails,"She received support from Petroleum Minister Veerappa Moily, In a strongly worded letter to Sports Minister Jitendra Singh, Moily said that Jwala was being treated unfairly and if it continues then Petroleum sector may be forced to reconsider it's association with BAI as various levels. He warned the Sports ministry be fair to Jwala Gutta or lose funding. The Sports Minister responded to Moily's letter saying that he will examine her case and extend all the support to her. He said "The Ministry is always there to support the sportspersons' cause and we will do that in Jwala's case as well". (Times of India)

Another athlete Dutee Chand was disqualified last year by the AFI as per IAAF's hyperandrogenism policy after tests revealed that her body produced natural levels of testosterone above permissible range. She has a condition

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called hyperandrogenism and her body produces natural levels of testosterone so high to place her in the male range in the eyes of international track and field. In December last year, the CAS, in an interim order, allowed Dutee to take part in domestic events. She took part in the January 31-February 14 National Games in Kerala and won a gold in women's 100m dash. At the CAS hearing, Dutee's counsels included some well known international experts like James Bunting and former Justice of the Canadian Supreme Court Morris Fish. Dr Payoshni Mitra, a research consultant on gender and sports issues, who has been working with Dutee, also accompanied her in Lausanne. The Sports Ministry bore the cost of Dutee's legal battle at the CAS. Sports Authority of India said that it would continue to support Dutee. " sprinter Dutee Chand had a fair hearing at the CAS in Lausanne. Sports Authority of India supported Ms. Chand since her disqualification in August 2014. SAI had backed her to make an appeal against her disqualification at the highest court of law in sports, reinstated her in Centre of Excellence (COE), NSNIS Patiala," SAI said in a release. "In December 2014, Ms. Chand was provisionally allowed to compete. She won a Gold and two Bronze medals at the 35th National Games in Kerala. Pending the decision in CAS, Ms. Chand will continue in competition.

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Sports Authority of India and Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports are committed to continue to support Ms. Chand," it added. Dutee will train in Hyderabad at the P Gopichand Academy with support from both SAI and Sports Ministry, the release added. SAI said it has been informed that the CAS hearing was presided over by three eminent arbitrators and Dutee was satisfied with the hearing and looking forward to the CAS decision in the coming months."Mr. Jim Bunting from Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP, Toronto, Canada represented Ms. Chand at CAS. He was assisted by Mr. Carlos Sayao and was advised by former Judge of Supreme Court of Canada, Justice Morris Fish. The legal team worked pro bono. SAI had covered all travel, accommodation and other expenses of Ms. Chand and the legal team."From India, Dr. Payoshni Mitra, Researcher and Activist, Gender and Sport Issues, accompanied Ms. Chand to Lausanne, whose travel and related costs were also borne by SAI," it said. SAI Director General Injeti Srinivas said that "safeguarding our athletes' rights is one of the foremost duties of SAI"."SAI believes in equality and fairness in sports. And we will continue to support legitimate interests of our athletes," (Times of India, March 31,2015; The Telegraph, Calcutta , July 29. 2015) .

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Apart from these there are many athletes who have a lot of similar stories both in favor and against them either from the association/organization where they are working, or the coaches under whom they are working etc. To name a few whose contribution can never be ignored are MC Mary Kom five time world champion and Olympic bronze medallist has proved that a sportswoman's career need not be bogged down by pressures of family commitments. Mary Kom captured everyone’s heart with her first Asian Games gold medal in the women’s 48-51 kg boxing. The victory was even more special for her as she had returned to the ring after a break of two years in which she delivered her third baby. , Cricketer : She is the first woman from India and Asia to score a double hundred in Tests. She held the record for the highest score in Women's Tests - 214 against England, 2002 - that stood for 19 months. PV Sindhu Badminton: The first Indian women to win a medal in World Badminton Championships, in 2013.

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Arunima Sinha: The first Indian amputee to climb the Mt. Everest. A former national football and volleyball player, she lost her leg after she was pushed from a running train while resisting an attack from thieves in 2011.

Deepika Kumari was born to Shivnarayan Mahato, an auto-rickshaw driver and Geeta Mahato, a nurse at Medical College. Her parents live at Ratu Chati village, 15 km away from Ranchi. As a child, she practised while aiming for mangoes with stones. In the early days it was rather difficult for the parents to financially support Deepika's dream, often compromising on the family budget to buy her new equipment for her training; as a result, Deepika practised archery using homemade bamboo bows and arrows. Deepika's cousin Vidya Kumari, then an archer residing at Tata Archery Academy, helped her develop her talent. Deepika made her first breakthrough in 2005 when she entered Arjun Archery Academy, an institute set up by Meera Munda, wife of chief minister of the state Shri. Arjun Munda at Kharsawan. But her professional archery journey begun in the year 2006 when she joined the Tata Archery Academy in . It was here that she started her training with both the proper equipment as well as a uniform. She also received Rs 500 as a stipend. Deepika returned home once in her first three years there, only after having won the Cadet World Championship title in November 2009.

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Sport and Glamour Here is a list of women in sports whose performances have given a new life to games in India. These women are not only good in their respective sport, but also add lots of glamour to the mix. Along with being exceptional athletes who are capable of competing with the best in the world, they are sensational beauties who can easily be mistaken for supermodels. Jwala Gutta of Badminton : Not only a performer but also also known as the one of the most vocal and talkative shuttler, being aggressive both on and off the court if need be. Pairing with Ashwini Ponnappa, she won a bronze in the 2011 World Championships. Gutta has also received an Arjuna Award and is one of the best female doubles badminton players in India. Sunitha Rao (Tennis) , Sonika Kaliraman (Wrestling) , Prachi Tehlan has played both basketball and netball at professional levels and won various medals during her more than 11 years of active sporting career. Pratima Singh (Basketball) has captained the country’s women’s national basketball team in several top tournaments. She is one of the most skilled ball handlers in India and has won numerous awards, including the Best Player award in various state and national championships and Most Valuable Player award in India’s first professional basketball league, MBLP, in 2010. This list wouldn’t have been complete without mentioning Sania Mirza, who has long been acclaimed as the face of Indian women in sports. Sania still continues to dominate

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the tennis scene among women and has improved her performance in the international circuit as well. Saina Nehwal (Badminton), this talented beauty doesn’t need any introduction. Saina Nehwal has become a household name after her incredible performance in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. She created history when she became the first Indian to win a bronze medal in badminton at the Olympics when she won the medal at the 2012 London Olympics. Dipika Pallikal (Squash) is an accomplished squash player, being the first Indian to break into the top 10 WSA rankings. She won 3 WISPA tour titles in 2001, which led her to achieve a career best ranking of 13. Tania Sachdev (Chess) is the ideal combination of brains and beauty. She won her first international title when she was only eight and continued to carve a niche for herself. The chess prodigy has already won the titles of Woman Grandmaster (2005) and International Master (2008), and went on to receive the prestigious Arjuna Award in 2009 for being the eight Indian Woman Grandmaster. Sachdev has been included in this list for her simplicity and achievement in a non-glamorous sport like chess. Sharmila Nicollet (Golf) only Indian on the Ladies European Tour. A great combination of talent, personality and grit makes her potentially the most exciting woman athlete in the country. Sharmila Nicollet the brand is young, confident, global, inspirational, classy, performance oriented and modern. With her achievements on the global

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stage at such a young age, she is an inspiration for a generation of young Indians. 1.8 How to Increase Women’s Participation in Sport Here I will focus specifically on how to increase participation of women in sports, in different contexts in India. Coaching programmes: Ensure that women are encouraged and have the opportunity to undertake leadership positions within the organization, including coaching, officiating, and committee membership Provide good technical instruction Establish a positive group atmosphere Use positive, encouraging, and instructive feedback Ensure that the training and competition needs of elite female athletes are identified and addressed Promote beginner and intermediate activities for girls and women as fun, open and non-competitive. Organize mother and daughter sessions to help create a familial culture of support for sport. Women and girls are more open to ideas about ‘health’ and ‘well-being’ “body image” than sport. Combine physical activity with health promotion; offer guest speakers on active lifestyles, nutrition, body image, healthy living etc.

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Women should be given a strong voice in programmes and maintain a flexible approach to participation to ensure their needs are heard and met. Safety: Close and secure parking, appropriate internal and external lighting, security guard if needed, contact numbers within reach Exercising in groups can make physical activity safer for women and girls. The sport facilities should be provided in each and every community , should have safe pedestrian networks, cycling , public transport routes, auto and taxi stands Facilities: Change facilities that take into account women’s and girls’ hygiene needs, and the needs of women and girls with disabilities (such as mobility, physical access, parking and access to information) Ensure that all areas are accessible to parents with prams and to people in wheelchairs; and that there are baby- changing facilities The provision of childcare and a child-friendly approach so that women can bring their children with them to the venue Provide crèche facilities and/or provide classes for toddlers and children, either with or separate from their parents, so that the adults can bring their children along when they go to exercise. For example, parents and baby aerobic classes

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could incorporate exercise like lunges with pushchairs, encouraging participants to see how they can incorporate physical activity into their daily lives. Specify exercise machines that are a suitable size for women, including appropriate increments on weight stacks Cultural & Religious sensitivity: India is a country of diverse culture and religion from and from east to west , north to south or based on Hinduism, Muslim, Christian , Sikhism, parsi, Jainism , Buddhism etc In India Western fashions are getting promoted by increasingly revealing clothes for women and girls, whereas social norms in some cultures prohibit exposure of the female body. For example, some Muslim girls and women practise Islamic law which prevents them appearing in front of men dressed in inappropriate attire.Even there are states where the girls or women are required to cover their body properly. If sports gear or clothing is inappropriate within a certain cultural context, then clothes can be designed that still respects traditions but allows women to play. Encourage women to design and choose their own sports clothing Encourage staff and coaches to wear casual, loose-fitting sports clothes Toilet, Shower and changing facilities that caters for the privacy needs of women and girls Different training times for men and women. For example, at the swimming pool where some cultures prohibit the exposure of the female body

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Different areas in the gym for men and women. For example, a separate weight training section for women Price / Affordability: Subsidies for women’s activities can make them more affordable. If subsidies cannot be sustained, consider offering them at the start of a new project or activity, and then gradually introduce fees Many a places a few sessions can be provided free of cost to promote the activity and once they are convinced they can be charged, Now a days in many a workplace have gyms. Making physical activity a part of the working day can help address the lack of time so many women experience. For example, lunchtime walking, running or exercise groups, supported by the employer, can help staff to fit physical activity into a busy working day. Promote physical activity, which doesn’t require transport, such as walking and running. Walking groups and running groups can support women to take part in low cost, low tech, easily accessible physical activity in a friendly, supportive group which can be tailored for different groups, such as young mothers (with or without their children), women in isolated areas etc.

Women Athletes cannot be Ignored any more

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Sports writer Prem Panicker (2015) said slowly changing attitudes have given rise to a generation of successful women on the sporting fields. "As we moved into the 2000s, disposable incomes increased, parents were more willing to allow their daughters to engage in (sporting) activities. As demand increased, so did coaching facilities," Panicker said. "I don't think it is any one factor as it is an indication of a progressive attitudinal shift, aided by external factors." The likes of Nehwal and Mirza, have also inspired girls to take up sport, according to experts. A Bollywood movie has been made about Kom, who overcame grinding poverty and an initially disapproving father to win her titles including an Olympic bronze medal.

The IOC is committed to gender equality in sport. The Olympic Charter, Chapitre 1, Rule 2.7, states that the IOC's role is: “to encourage and support the promotion of women in sport at all levels and in all structures with a view to implementing the principle of equality of men and women.”

References

Acharya, Jayashree ; Acharya, Ashutosh and Mohan, Shailaja (2014) Gender Based Analysis of Sport Goal Orientation, Coping Skills and Participation Motivation of South Indian Athletes Indian Journal of Sport Psychology Vol No.2, January & July , PP: 1-4, ISSN: 2320-2904.

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DeFrantz,Anita (2013) Eliminating and preventing violence against women and girls through sport Retrieved on 09/10/15 http://www.olympic.org/news/eliminating-and- preventing-violence-against-women-and-girls- through-sport/194138

Factsheet Women In The Olympic Movement (March 2013) http://www.olympic.org/

Guthrie, S. R., and S. Castelnuovo (2001) “Disability management among women with physical impairments: The contribution of physical activity”. In Sociology of Sport Journal, 18 (2001):16-17, cited in Oglesby, Carole A., et al. (2006), op. cit.

Guttmann, Allen (1991) Women’s Sports A History , Columbia University Press, New York http://www.currentaffairsonline.in/ http://www.gqindia.com/get-smart/sports/5-greatest- indian-sportswomen-all-time-gq-india#1

http://www.olympic.org/Documents/Olympism_in_act ion/Women_and_sport/IOC_FOCUS_JAN%202012% 20EN.pdfp://www.teindia.nic.in/mhrd/50yrsedu/12/8i/ 6T/8I6T0801.htm http://www.southdreamz.com/

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IANS |Posted 20-Apr-2015 Saina Nehwal raises a toast to female athletes of Indiahttp://www.mid- day.com/articles/saina-nehwal-raises-a-toast-to- female-athletes-of- india/16150195#sthash.RDsIJCIi.dpuf

International Olympic Committee (2004). Olympic Charter. Lausanne,Switzerland. Available from http:// multimedia.olympic.org/pdf/en_report_122.pdf

International Working Group on Women and Sport (1998). The Windhoek Call for Action. Namibia. Available from http://www.iwg-gti.org/e/ windhoek/call.htm

National Sport Development Code of India (2011) Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sport, Department of Sports

Oglesby, Carole A., in collaboration with the International Working Group on Women and Sport, WomenSport International, the International Association of Physical Education for Women and Girls, and the International Council of Sport Science and Physical Education (2006). “Positive Embodiment: Contributions of Sport, Exercise and Physical Recreation to the Life-long Development of Girls and Women”, brief prepared for the United Nations Division for the Advancement of Women.

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Olympic Charter 2015 International Olympic Committee http://www.olympic.org/

Prem Panicker (2015) From Sania to Saina, India shining with its women athletes Hindustan times AFP, New Delhi  (Chennai, India, 2012 )"Deepika Kumari wins first World Cup title". Retrieved 6 May 2012.

The Hindustan times "Father accepts Deepika has proved him wrong", 11 October 2010, Retrieved 11 October 2010 The Siasat times (2010) "Deepika Kumari: From mangoes to CWG gold", Retrieved 10 October 2010.

http://sports.indiapress.org/incentives_for_promotion_ of_sports_activities.php#g

http://www.teindia.nic.in/mhrd/50yrsedu/12/8i/6T/8I6 T0801.htm

 UNI C E F. S p o r t (2003) , Education and Girls. Available from http://www.unicef.org/ girlseducation/campaign_sport_education_girls.html

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (1978). The International Charter of Physical Education and Sport. Adopted by the General

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Conference at its twentieth session, 21 November 1978. Paris,France.

United Nations Inter-Agency Task Force on Sport for Development and Peace (2003). Sport as a tool for development and peace: Towards Achieving the United Nations Millennium Development Goals. New York. Available from ttp://www.un.org/sport2005/

Women’s Sports Foundation (2015) Benefits – Why Sports Participation for Girls and Women www.WomensSportsFoundation.org

World Health Organization (2007a). Why move for health. Geneva, Switzerland. Available from http://www. who.int/moveforhealth/en/

World Health Organization (2007b).Women and Physical Activity. Geneva, Switzerland. Available from http://www.who.int/moveforhealth/ advocacy/information_sheets/woman/ en/index.html

World Health Organization (2007c).Physical activity and older people: For people of all ages, physical activity improves the quality of life in many ways. Geneva, Switzerland. Retrieved on 09/10/15 http://www.who.int/moveforhealth/advocacy/informati on_sheets/elderly/en/index.html

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