Meet India's teen 'Chak De' girls! For the first time in the last 4 decades, India will represent at the Children's Olympics. A team of under-15 girls from Bangalore will represent the country at the event to be held in Canada this year.
A team of eight Bangalore girls will stage the country at the 47th International Children’s Games by International Olympic Committee.
"We have been sending a boys team for the past four years. This is the first time we decided to send an all-girls soccer team. The exposure they will get now will go a long way in preparing them for future competition," says Elvis Joseph, founder director, Bangalore Schools Sports Foundation.
The all-girls soccer team have been preparing for the big event since the last two months, which, according to Joseph, is not enough for the competition of this stature. The director, blames the lack of awareness and poor sports environment in the country for this.
"We could take out only two months. This itself was difficult as schools have their examinations and all. There is no formal time given to sports," rues Joseph.
"Only seven schools in Bangalore came forward to nominate girls from their schools for the competition. "The response was poor. Out of so many schools in Bangalore, only seven came forward. This clearly shows that girls are not encouraged in sports," he adds.
"No training is enough, but we have worked hard for this. Hopefully, we will be able to put up a good show in Canada," says Keya Viswanathan, one of the participants.
Priyanka Bakshi, another player said not too many of her friends are keen on taking up sports. "Even before the practice started, I knew my teammates as there are only these many girls in Bangalore who take part in sports competition."
The sad part, however is that the team will represent India in Canada sans any sponsor. The main sponsors of the Indian team backed out at the eleventh hour, leaving the girls in lurch. The management had to borrow funds from other sources to pay for the tickets of these budding soccer stars.
"There has been no communication from this sponsor of ours. I have not been given the reasons behind withdrawal of support,' says Joseph.
Joseph urges sponsors to promote sports rather than wait for players to make a name before agreeing to sponsor them.
(AW: Suchorita Dutta)
