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www.asian-voice.com
6 - 12 August 2022
AsianVoiceNews AsianVoiceNewsweekly
High Commission of India organises T20 cricket match India win 10 medals at To celebrate Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, the High Commission of India in the UK, and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry – UK organised a friendly T-20 cricket match at the Indian Gymkhana, London. The event was also aimed to show support to the Indian contingent participating at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games 2022. The High Commission team led by the Acting High Commissioner Sujit Ghosh included officers and staff of the High Commission. The FICCI team included employees of its members like Carclo Technical Plastics, ICICI Bank UK PLC, MTC Group, Red Ribbon Asset Management, SBI UK, TCS, as well as members of the Indian diaspora. The match turned out to be a thrilling encounter that went down to the last over. FICCI XI emerged victorious by 5 runs. Close to 125 members of the Indian Community watched the match. Some of the eminent personalities cheering the team included The Rt Hon. the Baroness Prashar CBE, Chairperson, FICCI UK
Council, Manish Singh, IAS, Managing Director, Madhya Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation Limited, Sharad Chandak, CEO & Regional Head, State Bank of India, Arvid Pedersen, Vice Chair, Red Ribbon Asset Management, Ramkumar Chandrasekaran, HR Director – UK & Ireland, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Parag Anand, Director, Daksh Global, amongst others. Speaking during the post-match presentation, Sujit Ghosh said, “The friendly match between the two teams was part of the various activities being organised by the High Commission to celebrate Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav. Such occasions also allow for interactions in an informal setting between the Community
and High Commission officials where issues are discussed, and queries related to consular and visa matters are responded to”. Baroness Parashar said, “I am delighted that we were able to organise this friendly cricket match between FICCI Council members and the Indian High Commission to mark India’s 75 years of Independence. It was good to see families engaged in planning and cheering! It was equally fitting that this match took place just before the start of Commonwealth Games. It was a reminder that ‘Friendly Sports’ are not just about winning or losing but more about how we play. They are fun and provide opportunities for informal interaction and help to build better understanding.” Sujit Ghosh was adjudged as the ‘Man of the Match’ for his valiant 43 not out. Pradeep Rawat of the HCI XI was the bowler of the match with five wickets for 22 runs in his quota of four overs. Aditya Rathod of FICCI XI was the batsman of the match. HCI and FICCI intend to make it an annual feature and rotate the trophy year-on-year.
C'wealth Games
Commonwealth Games 2022 is at the most interesting point as Indian women's fours team registered a historic 17-10 win against South Africa in Lawn Bowls finals to clinch first for the country. Besides, Indian men are all set to face Singapore in the Table Tennis final. India can also expect a medal on Day 6 as Murali Shreeshankar and Muhammad Anees made it to the Long jump finals. With 10 medals in the account, India would be looking to outperform South Africa for the 5th spot. The bigger challenge for India would be to win gold in most of their events to rank higher than South Africa or Canada. Besides, Scotland is another nation that is performing exceptionally well and might get more medals this year. Whether India gets more gold medals or not, we’ll know later. So, here is how India looks at the Commonwealth games 2022 Birmingham. Indian Winners: Mirabai Chanu, weightlifting, women's 49kg gold; Jeremy Lalrinnunga, weightlifting, men's 67kg, gold; Achinta Sheuli, weightlifting, men's 73kg, gold; Sanket Sargar, weightlifting, men's 55kg, silver; Bindyarani Devi, weightlifting, women's 55kg, silver; Gururaja Poojary, men's 61kg, bronze; Sushila Devi weightlifting, Likmabam, judo, women's 48kg, silver; Vijay Kumar Yadav, judo, men's 60kg, bronze; Harjinder Kaur, weightlifting, women's 71kg, bronze.
South Asian Lionesses, a dream… Continued from page 1 According to GWR, the team of Lionesses now has the record for most goals scored at a UEFA Women's European Championship. Germany broke this record in 2009 with 21 goals. Asian Voice reached out to experts, and parents in the community to share their two cents on how this win might break the stereotypes of South Asian culture and encourage more girls and women to pursue a career in football. While little girls are inspired and elated by this win, our respondents believe there is a lot of work that needs to be done in order to see more South Asian faces, especially women in sports like football. Leadership race candidate Rishi Sunak wants the UK to host the future Women's football World Cup. Following the Lionesses’ incredible success at UEFA Women’s EURO 2022, Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries announced Government’s £230 million investment to build or improve 8,000 grassroots football and multi-sport facilities by 2025, alongside the stipulation that they must provide access to women’s and girls’ football, the move will cement the team’s legacy for generations to come. This will support the FA’s ambition for the tournament to create half a million extra opportunities for women and girls to play football. Women’s Lead Performance Doctor at The Football Association, Dr Ritan Mehta tweeted: “I feel so privileged to have been part of this journey. The Lionesses are an inspiration to everyone and I couldn’t be prouder of each of them and the work they put in daily to succeed together. They deserve this as do all those that came before them who paved the way.” Only 44 per cent of secondary schools in England offer girls equal access to football However, the Muslim Women’s Network UK has revealed that only 44 per cent of secondary schools in England offer girls equal access to football in PE lessons. Schools serving girls living in the most deprived areas are even less likely to be offered football as an option. Stereotypes of girls from certain communities not being interested in football will also limit the choices offered. MWNUK CEO, Baroness Shaista Gohir OBE, said: “We look forward to seeing Muslim women in the England squad in the future. However, the investment will be required to develop their talent. Muslim women and girls are already interested in football. A number of grassroots projects
led by Muslim women provide a safe and positive environment that facilitates girls and women to participate in a number of different sports including football. However, such initiatives will only be successful, if the local groups are well resourced. They will need funds to pay for outreach work, challenge attitudes, coaching, hiring spaces to train and play, and travel and football kits and boots. Being involved in football does not just have to be about playing the game, some Muslim women want to be football coaches and referees. Developing girls and women for these roles will also require funding.” Lack of diversity ‘glaringly obvious’ Speaking to the newsweekly, Head of Diversity and Inclusion Birmingham Pride, Saima Razzaq said, “The Lionesses' iconic Euros win is an important moment for women’s football in the UK, even more so when we consider the 50-year ban on the sport, only lifted in 1970. A ban that was instigated by envious men who were threatened by the large crowd women’s football attracted.” According to Saima, by winning the Euros, our women’s team have achieved something their male counterparts haven’t managed for 53 years, and by doing so will inspire a future generation of girls to follow in their footsteps, and this must include South Asian girls too. “The lack of diversity in the team was glaringly obvious and it doesn’t come as a surprise. We as a South Asian community though, need to make this change happen for ourselves. Just as we encourage our young boys to take an interest in sport, we must ensure we instil our young girls with the same encouragement, to become the best women they can be. The win is also timely, with this year seeing the introduction of women’s cricket into the Commonwealth Games, and we should be really proud as a South Asian community that we have both India and Pakistan represented in this historic moment,” the diversity head said. Will more Asian girls dream of a career in football or sports? Professor Pragya Agarwal’s six-year-old multiracial twins started playing football at the age of two before the pandemic lockdown every week. They have continued this after the lockdown restrictions have been lifted. Along with football, they also do swimming, horse-riding, tennis, taekwondo, rock climbing and gymnastics. “They also used to do cricket but didn't enjoy it as
much and so we stopped,” she said. Agarwal further added, “As a South Asian woman, I have never worried about a 'traditional' career path and for me, it is most important that my children find joy and pride in whatever they do. Some of these other sports will fall by the wayside as they grow and their interests become more specific. England’s team cheers ovee its victory against Germany in the final of the Euro 2022 football tournament But I want them to grow healthy and Girls will get their first role models active, and also as girls, I am aware they Anirban Mukhopadhyay of Heritage would be more likely to be susceptible to Bengal Foundation told Asian Voice, “We pressures and insecurities around body started the IFA Shield UK for Women, to image. So our goal has always been to raise the awareness and interest of the inculcate athleticism and pride in what a womenfolk, in football, in a community strong and healthy body can achieve. I grew where girls are not at all encouraged to take up believing I wasn't 'sporty' and although I up sports- we thought if mothers are have played cricket, football and squash brought into the playing ground, the girl occasionally I am not athletic or fit.” children will get their first role models and Pragya has taken up tennis lessons with success like today’s, it will turn into a alongside her daughters and is also keen for wave in near future with girl children taking them to develop team spirit and skills. to football regularly. And of course, there is “Whether they take up football as a career or the ‘stay fit and keep healthy’ angle to this not will very much depend on them, but I whole initiative.” will continue to challenge gender Sujatha Krishnan Barman, Advisor stereotypes for (and with) them every day so The Behavioural Insights Team told the that they do not see their gender as a newsweekly, “It's been amazing watching limitation in any way. Representation is very the English women's team over the past important and one of our twins already talks week, and even more amazing watching about going to the Olympics. It is also how they're inspiring little girls up and important for them to see more British down the country to see that as an option Asian women in these sports and in the for them. My daughter's too young for her bigger arenas so they don't feel their skin (or us) to be thinking about careers, but she colour is any limitation either,” she said. loved seeing people *like her* play on TV Improve the game and opportunities yesterday with the crowds cheering, and available the whole family gathered around to Aatish Sharma, Chief Executive Officer whoop in delight. And during halftime and Southall FC told us, “The Lionesses have breaks, she and her friend went off to kick done the entire nation proud and have the ball about in the garden with far more created history following the 2-1 win over gusto than we've ever seen before.” Germany at Wembley Stadium. We hope Richa Prasad feels that the lionesses this fantastic achievement can really boost winning the Euro finals will really change female participation in sports, particularly things. Her daughter Riya often wears football to continue forward from the football t-shirts but this is the first time the recent success. Girls' and women’s football mother-daughter spotted more girls will only grow stronger. wearing football jerseys post the Euro win. “At Southall Football Club, we hope to Richa’s three-year-old niece is also learning develop a new ground and sports facilities football. “I just feel that this is going to in Southall and encourage girls and women become more mainstream with England to get involved in sports. Southall team has done so well. Everyone, especially represents one of the most diverse areas in girls are so proud that they did the English the UK, which is often forgotten. Some of girls team did something which the men's the conversation following England’s team hasn't been able to do. “I guess more success has centred around lack of diversity girls will start playing football,” she told but here at Southall FC, we are looking to Asian Voice. Richa’s 14-year-old daughter tackle this head-on by creating pathways Riya hopes to have more conversations into the game. The Lionesses have inspired with her friends about football since this all. We must do all that we can to improve historic win has paved the way for more the game and improve the opportunities dialogue around women in the game. available, to build upon this legacy.”
