Youth are the foundation of a developing nation with abundant possibilities to offer something new to our society. But with a lack of guidance and set goals, any young talents can get lost in their struggle to find the right path in their life. This statement is more applicable when it comes to sports, as there are more choices and options available for pursuing academia but there is very little scope for sports in India. Especially for an athlete who is a woman. To them pursuing a career in sports can be a real challenge.
In our country where gender bias is considered normal, any women having athletic qualities are overlooked by their parents. Studies have shown that around 75 % of children in our country stop playing any active sports by the time they reach adolescence. Also, there are more girls than boys in the data who left out physical education altogether. But the scenario of women in sports is changing in the present time, as more and more female athletes are making their mark on international platforms.
Sports schools play a major role in gaining gradual acceptance from parents that sports can be a career choice for their daughters. One of the best sports schools for women in West Bengal is the Aditiya Schools of Sports. The institution has set a benchmark in quality sports education for budding female athletes. They are given the best infrastructure, facilities and guidance so that young athletes can work on their true potential. The recent achievement made by three students of this school Naorem Priyanka Devi, S.Monika Devi and Sushmita Tanty are getting placed in the under 20 women’s national football team. This is the perfect example of what a woman athlete can achieve if she gets the right guidance and platform.
Benefits of Physical Education
It is a known fact that playing a sport is always a good idea but you have to understand why it is beneficial for your kids to indulge themselves in sports. Physical education is not only necessary for children who are pursuing a career as a sportsperson but also for normal people. It is always beneficial to strike a healthy balance between academia and physical education.
Factors Influencing Girls Dropping Out of Sports
A recent study conducted on why female children more readily drop out from pursuing sports indicates several factors influencing them.
Accessibility
One of the primary reasons for girls to drop out from playing is due to the lack of accessibility. A girl has a lesser opportunity of playing a sport in high school. The school authorities’ lack of interest to build a separate team for girls in Any sport is one of the primary reasons for this.
Discrimination
The social discrimination between a boy and a girl child is another reason behind the dropping number of female athletes. A majority of Indian families only think of educating their girls in academics. If by any chance a girl is playing any sports she is tagged as a “tomboy” and often faces isolation from their classmates too. Plus, they have to face a bully or negative remarks for being differently skilled than others.
Infrastructure and Transportation
The limited number of sports schools and sports clubs in the urbane area is the prime reason behind the low accessibility to sports for women. There are limited numbers of sports clubs in an urbane area and they are mostly located far away. Many parents don’t feel safe sending their daughter if a good sports facility is miles away. Aditya School of Sports is one of the few organizations providing the best facilities in Kolkata.
No matter how tough the situation might be, female sportspersons in India have proven that they are more than capable on various international platforms.