‘Girls of Bangladesh possess ample spirit’

Having tried her luck in a BKSP trial after picking up bow and arrows for the first time in 2017 as an eighth-grade student in Nilphamari, Diya Siddique never quite looked back ever since. Fast-forward to becoming an Olympian in 2021 in Tokyo, she also clinched silver in the Archery World Cup this year to create history for Bangladesh. As a significant contributor to the country's sporting success in 2021, the 17-year-old shared her thoughts on women's progress and scope while speaking to The Daily Star's Ashfaq Ul Mushfiq.

The Daily Star (DS): In 2021, where the men failed to bring success in the international levels, the women on the other hand, yourself included, brought tremendous sporting glory for Bangladesh. What's your take on that?

Diya Siddique: The way the standard of Bangladesh women's sports has gradually improved so far, I think this is a very positive sign for us given that women usually lag much behind men in terms of sports in this country. We have seen the women's cricket team qualify for the ODI world cup, and the U-19 girls become the SAFF Champions in football. On social media, I've seen people urge the boys to learn a thing or two from the girls (smiles). Actually, these girls have been through so much in their lives, they get hell-bent on proving doubters wrong.
 

DS: How was your initial journey in archery? As a woman, did you face any obstacle then?

Diya: Honestly, I always had support from my family since the very beginning. However, my mother used to be a bit worried about me staying away from home. Although I haven't faced many difficulties but there were times when performance didn't go well and a lot of pessimistic talks followed. But this is quite normal and happens with men and women alike. We try to take these words as a source of motivation to perform better in future.
 

DS: Do you see this year's success by our women to carry on to the future?  

Diya: The way we are evolving, I think it's very possible to sustain success for a long time, but only if we get a proper safety net in return for our struggle and hard work. I think the girls of Bangladesh possess an ample spirit that enables them to achieve anything. They are determined to do well for their country, their families, and for themselves.

DS: Speaking of determination, what are your personal objectives for 2022?

Diya: In terms of my personal goals, I have eight international games and I wish to participate in each of them. Since I have gained some experience this year, I'll try to keep testing myself on a bigger stage as an individual because I always expect good results. Also, my HSC [Higher Secondary Certificate] exams will be taking place, so my parallel goal is to pull off a good result and enroll in a good university.

DS: How do you balance your studies while representing your country?

Diya: When my exams are near, I always aim to achieve good results at any cost. So I start preparing a couple of months ahead of exams. I try to study late at night even if it gets difficult. My coaches are also very supportive. For instance, if I have an online class at the time of practice, coaches prioritise my studies and allow me to attend classes. 

DS: We have seen noticeable wage differences between men and women in sports, not only in Bangladesh but also around the world. As a professional archer, have you faced such discrimination?

Diya: Not really. We archers play for different agencies, and as far as I know, both men and women get equal payment based on their ranks. However, we don't get any salary from the national team. We do get some remuneration every month, but it's more akin to pocket money for buying soaps and shampoo (smiles). If anyone plays for defence [Service teams], they get extra payment if they perform well, or else they have to settle with the regular monthly salary.

DS: Is the salary enough to maintain an archer's livelihood? Can the family be supported?

Diya: It's definitely not enough. Normally, most of the archers come from middle-class families. In my case, I was lucky to have enough support from my family, who covered my expenses. There are many archers who don't get paid enough so that they could also support their families. And not everyone will play well or get higher ranks, so for those who are in lower levels, it gets very difficult for them. I also believe, those who are representing the country in archery, it's our right to get a decent salary since those who come to play here, not only have credibility but also bear the responsibility of supporting a family.

DS: Those who are taking early strides as a professional, if they don't have a good financial backup, how difficult is it for them?

Diya: It's like, when we are students, we ask for financial aid from our family till we grow up. Similarly in archery, until a player has reached a good level, they need to receive financial support from family.