Indian women have progressed a lot in the past few years in sport than in several previous decades. While much of this improvement is due to the vastly improved training methods they put to use in a sustained manner through the season, it is also clear that Indian women have steeled up much more in the matter of competing in sport at the international level.
The first-ever medal in women’s hockey that Indian girls won in Germany on Sunday is further proof of the advancement even in physical contact sport. At moments such as these, the sacrifices that so many women have made over the years in playing sports, which with very few exceptions have been strictly of the amateur category, seem worthwhile now.
India’s sportswomen have also had many role models to pick from as their favourite in just the past few years. Badminton star Saina Nehwal, indubitably the best sportswoman the country has produced in a long time, as well as boxer Mary Kom have both raised the level of sporting consciousness among young Indians by dint of their distinguished accomplishments in the highest company in the international arena. Pro sport that is coming to India in the wake of cricket’s IPL is also opening up career possibilities for young people that would have been unthinkable even a couple of decades ago. In short, the scene is sanguine.