Women’s sports through the lens of two generations

Women's participation in sports in the country formally began soon after the independence of Bangladesh in 1971. Breaking all the barriers, female athletes like Rani Hamid and Zobera Rahman Linu became central figures in Bangladesh's sporting landscape in those early days. But in the last few years, the female athletes have started to garner a greater portion of the limelight, especially the age-group successes in women's football and the significant growth and success of the Bangladesh women's cricket team on the international stage, and the emergence of athlete like Diya Siddique in archery has been a key highlight if one were to chart the rise of women's sports in the country over the last 10 years. Their success and heartwarming stories, where we can mention the recent triumph of the SAFF Under-19 Championship, about how they overcame all barriers to bring laurels for the country have led to not only a newfound belief among female sporting aspirants but also uplifted the nation's spirit. It has been an encouraging scenario in terms of creating a positive vibe in the state of women's sports in the country, although the road to ensuring that there is no discrimination between male and female athletes in terms of pay gaps and facilities is still a work in progress. And speaking of progress, which mostly yielded through the athletes' self-motivation and encouragement from some individuals rather than a well-formed system, the ones made over the last few years are no less encouraging. However, a big question remains about whether the existing system encourages females to take up sport as a profession and untap their true potential through sport. As we venture into a promising new year, The Daily Star Sport talked with two generations of women athletes to shed light on different aspects surrounding women's sports in Bangladesh.