Rani Rampal’s blunt take on pay disparity between cricket & other sports in India

“The kind of struggle Mirabai Chanu has undergone, has a cricketer done that? Still, the sponsors end up going towards cricket. They can support us as well. It’s maybe because cricket has more visibility. Cricketers know that playing the Ranji Trophy can sort their careers. For us, even playing at the Olympics is not enough. They struggle financially. Parents often say that ‘khel se roti nahi milegi’ (Sport won’t earn you a living) to discourage kids from taking up sport. It’s a hard fact. There is discrimination and we need to do something about it,” she said during an event in New Delhi on Friday.

‘Tough to qualify for Olympics’

At the same event, Tokyo Olympics silver-medallist weightlifter Mirabai Chanu voiced her opinion on the need for support that does not depend solely on sporting success.

“It is tough to qualify for the Olympics and just be there. It’s a big achievement for us, just to participate. I felt like I wanted to win medals for India. As a woman athlete, I have to go through a lot. I was on my period during the Paris Olympics. We fight through the pain during training also and it gets tough. Due to cramps, you can feel pain. But we are athletes and we have to make that effort,” Chanu said.

“I tried a lot to win in Paris. I had a hip injury at the Asian Games, so the comeback after that was tough. The bodies are different for male and female athletes and we practise according to that. At times, I feel I push myself too hard and get injured. In Paris, I felt as if my body was not working the way I wanted it to. Everyone was hoping; I tried my best but it was not to be. When we win medals, we get praise. But the criticism is also severe when we don’t win. This needs to change, it should not happen,” she added.