Making room for everyone at the sports table

Priyal Keni

Priyal Keni is an international rifle shooter adorned with more than a 100 medals at the national and state level. She has also been conferred the coveted Shiv Chhatrapati Award which is the highest honour for sport in the state of Maharashtra. Priyal has been a part of the Indian Rifle Shooting Team for 7 years and has broken 3 national records. We spoke to Priyal about her aspirations for sports, gaps in the Indian sports culture, and the impact of sports on sustainable development. "Sports around the world still remains male-dominated despite having strong female leads and counterparts. It is still a ‘boy thing' to indulge in sports in India, let alone make it a career or passion."

Less than 30% of the female population in our country is engaged in any form of sport. Most of them are not allowed to pursue sports because it is not a "woman thing" or are forcibly pulled out once they hit puberty, given the entire taboo around menstruation prevalent in the Indian society.

The media too plays a very crucial role in promoting a healthy sports culture and bridging the gap. "Even today, not many gifted females are given the right opportunity to pursue sport, leave alone representing India at international events. This skewed representation needs to shift, and the focus should be on sports and the community which includes all genders, races, and ethnic backgrounds. One of the greatest struggles for female athletes is the lack of opportunity, adequate funding and recognition due to which we are unable to build an inclusive sports culture."

When we spoke to Priyal about what are her aspirations for sports in the future, she spoke about building an inclusive sports culture that will open new doors to work towards dissolving the prevailing regional and gender-based disparities in our country. "There are so many things you learn on the field beyond the 4 walls of the classroom. One of the greatest lessons I learned from being a sportsperson is discipline - something that schools around the country want to adopt"

Priyal Keni is also a strong advocate about sports and sustainability. In a recent TEDx talk, she spoke about how India can achieve their sustainable development goals by using sports as a tool. She has aligned her work predominantly towards achieving the sustainable development goals mentioned in the United Nations 2030 Agenda.

To achieve this, she started the Play and Shine foundation to provide children from underprivileged backgrounds the opportunity to learn about sports. The Foundation has impacted more than 4000 individuals through the support of 400 volunteers. "We are moving towards a more accepting generation and there is a clear shift in perspective which will make room for everyone at the table, especially when it comes to sports. My goal with The Play and Shine Foundation is to be able to provide every child the opportunity to pursue sport."

By encouraging more girls to take up sports we are empowering them to stand up for themselves and pursue their dreams while trying to break the notion that excelling at sports is only for boys. This is because when you are on the field, it does not matter what background, sexual orientation or disability you come with.

Priyal is positive that the outlook towards women in sports will change and we will see a wholesome representation of India at all upcoming tournaments. "I can only hope that we can allow every child in the country to believe in the same; because when we create a healthy atmosphere within which we all work together as a team - we empower each other, and empowering the young minds of the country is empowering an entire generation.