With Incredible Wins at Tokyo Olympics, Are Times Changing for Women in Sports?
The Big StoryAugust 02, 202100:14:48

With Incredible Wins at Tokyo Olympics, Are Times Changing for Women in Sports?

Women athletes from the Indian contingent have not only been making the country proud with their incredible performances at the Tokyo Olympics 2020 — but also rewriting history as they go. Mirabai Chanu didn't let her setback in Rio deter her and went on to bagging the silver medal in weightlifting. PV Sindhu became the only Indian athlete to win two Olympic medals as she beat China's He Bing Jiao to win the bronze medal in women's singles. Lovlina Borghain has assured herself of a medal at the Tokyo Olympics after winning the welter-weight quarter-finals. And, the Indian women's hockey team beat Australia to enter the Olympic semi-finals for the very first time, where they will be facing Argentina on 4 August. But it's not just about winning medals. The Tokyo Olympics are also about how in the face of adversities and the lack of encouragement for women to join sports in the country, this year saw many more women athletes make it to the Olympics and inspire people. WhileBhavani Devi, for instance became the first Indian fencer to qualify for the Olympics, Aditi Ashok became the first female Indian to represent India there. Some other athletes like Kamalpreet Kaur who although fell short of a medal in women's discus finals, is inspiring Indians by smashing the existing gender stereotypes in Indian society and coming into sports. It's been thrilling to see Indian women athletes shine at the Olympics. With these incredible wins, are times finally changing for how India looks at women athletes? Tune in! Host and Producer: Shorbori Purkayastha Guests: Anju Bobby George, India's first and only World Champion in the IAAF World Athletics Final Editor: Shelly Walia Music: Big Bang Fuzz Listen to The Big Story podcast on: Apple: https://apple.co/2AYdLIl Saavn: http://bit.ly/2oix78C Google Podcasts: http://bit.ly/2ntMV7S Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2IyLAUQ Deezer: http://bit.ly/2Vrf5Ng Castbox: http://bit.ly/2VqZ9ur
Women athletes from the Indian contingent have not only been making the country proud with their incredible performances at the Tokyo Olympics 2020 — but also rewriting history as they go.

Mirabai Chanu didn't let her setback in Rio deter her and went on to bagging the silver medal in weightlifting. PV Sindhu became the only Indian athlete to win two Olympic medals as she beat China's He Bing Jiao to win the bronze medal in women's singles. Lovlina Borghain has assured herself of a medal at the Tokyo Olympics after winning the welter-weight quarter-finals. 

And, the Indian women's hockey team beat Australia to enter the Olympic semi-finals for the very first time, where they will be facing Argentina on 4 August.

But it's not just about winning medals. The Tokyo Olympics are also about how in the face of adversities and the lack of encouragement for women to join sports in the country, this year saw many more women athletes make it to the Olympics and inspire people. 

WhileBhavani Devi, for instance became the first Indian fencer to qualify for the Olympics, Aditi Ashok became the first female Indian to represent India there. Some other athletes like Kamalpreet Kaur who although fell short of a medal in women's discus finals, is inspiring Indians by smashing the existing gender stereotypes in Indian society and coming into sports.

It's been thrilling to see Indian women athletes shine at the Olympics. With these incredible wins, are times finally changing for how India looks at women athletes? Tune in!

Host and Producer: Shorbori Purkayastha
Guests: Anju Bobby George, India's first and only World Champion in the IAAF World Athletics Final Editor: Shelly Walia
Music: Big Bang Fuzz
Listen to The Big Story podcast on:
Apple: https://apple.co/2AYdLIl Saavn: http://bit.ly/2oix78C Google Podcasts: http://bit.ly/2ntMV7S Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2IyLAUQ Deezer: http://bit.ly/2Vrf5Ng Castbox: http://bit.ly/2VqZ9ur