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Athlete Dutee Chand created headlines by becoming the first Indian Sprinter to qualify for Rio 2016. Discover all about her challenging journey here.
Dutee Chand has proved it to the world that the power of truth can help a person stand defiant against all odds. The sports fraternity were overjoyed to hear about Dutee Chand’s success and applauded her for her achievements.
Earlier, she was accused of doping after she showed enhanced testosterone levels and was also banned from playing under the women’s category. She saw her career crumbling down in front of her eyes. Fortunately, the grit and determination she possessed helped her in fighting her case by taking it to the Court of Arbitration of Sports.
The CAS panel concluded that there is not enough evidence to suggest that enhanced testosterone levels were linked to better athletic performances. She fought the battle alone and managed to emerge victorious.
Sandhi Soundrajan, the renowned athlete, had the same fate after she failed a gender test after winning the medal in Doha. She was forced to work as a daily wager in a brick kiln where she would slog for eight hours a day to earn about Rs. 200 a day.
Both the athletes were denied support from the national federations but didn’t give up on their dreams. From being stars in their respective sports, life has not been easy for them. Lack of support from the federations has its genesis in the fact that hardly any women are a part of these federations which fails to ensure the need for sensitivity in gender related issues.
On one occasion, Dutee was also advised to undergo surgery and take medication. Her resolute nature motivated her to challenge the controversial guidelines at CAS.
In a society that sometimes discourages women from leaving the shackles of their homes, Dutee is definitely an inspiration for many. Female athletes like her definitely carry the audacity to weaken the tie between masculinity and elite athleticism that thwarts women’s participation in competitive sports. Lack of opportunities and funding for women’s teams are other conundrums that women in Indian sports face.
Dutee’s selection to Rio Olympics calls for huge celebrations. It is a great moment for the country. Let women power shine in Rio 2016.
Image Source – sports.ndtv.com
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Neena was the sole caregiver of Amma and though one would think that Amma was dependent on her, Neena felt otherwise.
Neena inhaled the aroma that emanated from the pan and took a deep breath. The aroma of cumin interspersed with butter transported her back to the modest kitchen in her native village. She could picture her father standing in the kitchen wearing his white crisp kurta as he made delectable concoctions for his only daughter.
Neena grew up in a home where both her parents worked together in tandem to keep the house up and running. She had a blissful childhood in her modest two-room house. The house was small but every nook and cranny gave her memories of a lifetime. Neena’s young heart imagined that her life would follow the same cheerful course. But how wrong she was!
When she was sixteen, the catastrophic clutches of destiny snatched away her parents. They passed away in a road accident and Neena was devastated. Relatives thronged her now gloomy house and soon it was decided that she should be married off.
Being a writer, Nivedita Louis recognises the struggles of a first-time woman writer and helps many articulate their voice with development, content edits as a publisher.
“I usually write during night”, says author Nivedita Louis during our conversation. Chuckling she continues,” It’s easier then to focus solely on writing. Nivedita Louis is a writer, with varied interests and one of the founders of Her Stories, a feminist publishing house, based in Chennai.
In a candid conversation she shared her journey from small-town Tamil Nadu to becoming a history buff, an award-winning author and now a publisher.
Nivedita was born and raised in a small town in Tamil Nadu. It was for schooling that she first arrived in Chennai. Then known as Madras, she recalls being awed by the city. Her love-story with the city, its people and thus began which continues till date. She credits her perseverance and passion to make a difference to her days as a vocational student among the elite sections of Madras.
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