'It Was Tough For Women In 90's': Mithali Raj Reflects On Indian Women's Struggle In Sports

At ABP Network’s landmark India@2047 summit, a powerful session titled “Testing Endurance” brought together three of India's most celebrated women in sports—Mithali Raj, Rani Rampal, and Lovlina Borgohain—who shared deeply personal accounts of their journey, resilience and vision for the future of Indian sports.

Held at Bharat Mandapam in Delhi, the one-day summit, spearheaded by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, brought together national and global changemakers to deliberate on India's path toward becoming a developed nation by 2047. In this inspiring session, moderated by Pratima Mishra, the three athletes shared the untold stories behind their success, sacrifices, and relentless determination.

Mithali Raj

Mithali Raj, the former Indian cricketer who led the national team from 2004 to 2022, reflected on the struggle of Indian Women to make a mark in sports in the 90's, as the majority of the endorsements were dominated by men.

Mithali was initially interested in making a name for herself in the field of dancing, but her brother's dedication and discipline inspired her to make a switch to cricket.

The former right-handed batter also reflected on the lack of academies back then, and the immense growth women's cricket has seen in the past decade.

Rani Rampal

Rani Rampal, who broke onto the international scene at just 15, recounted her days of struggle, as lack of money and facilities made it hard for the Haryana-born girl to make her way up to the top in Women's hockey.

The former India Women Hockey team captain also added that women in Haryana lacked enough freedom 25 years ago, as 'nobody was happy when she was born', but the scenario has completely changed with the growth in women's sports in modern age.

Lovlina Borgohain

Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist Lovlina Borgohain spoke about the lack of facilities in Assam, by stating that it took an Olympic medal to bring all sorts of development in her village. An area that lacked properly-constructed roads, water facilities, suddenly saw a change in fortune, as Lovlina's accomplishments acted as a boon for her village.

Conclusion

The session wrapped up with all three athletes sharing their respective stories and the struggles they endured to promote Women's sports in India.

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