Create more opportunities for women in sport

A recent bodybuilding championship held in Ratlam, Madhya Pradesh has been marred by controversy. The patron of the competition is from the Bharatiya Janata Party. The uproar began when some from the Congress Party turned down female bodybuilders in bikinis, mandatory attire for attendees, who posed in front of a picture of Lord Hanuman. They said it was an insult to Hindu dharma and the Lord, while the BJP hit back, saying Congress cannot look at women in sport through the right lens.

Political battles and public relations aside, this paper quotes the secretary-general of the sport’s parent company in India, a female board member, in a report and mentions how women’s bodies must stop being political battlegrounds. This not only applies to sports, but also to entertainment; actually in every class of society. From the smallest unit, the family, to the political sphere, women’s clothing has become a vehicle for mudslinging and cheap, easy attention. This is especially true in the vast social media landscape where simple commenting is easily possible.

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It’s time to pay more attention to real problems. Creating more opportunities for women in sport. Help them break the glass ceiling in sports administration. Strive for equality, especially in sports like bodybuilding where female participation is still low for a number of factors. Make our schools, colleges and sports venues safe and hygienic. See changing mindsets from the grassroots. Help athletes who have reached a certain level to compete abroad. Make sure promised sums of money and prizes reach our triumphant players and politicians keep their promises. These are the aspects that require attention rather than infantile slugfest.