Queens of the greens!

Manika Ahuja

These damsels have teed their way into a sport that was previously earmarked as male-dominated. They know the journey is replete with challenges, because, for golf to receive a warmer embrace from sports enthusiasts, a lot of misconceptions need to be cleared. And mind you, this female brigade’s tryst with golf did not entail a way to pass leisure time; for them, it is a way of life!

Family support

Tavleen Batra, currently earning her degree in BA from Chandigarh’s MCM DAV College, took to golf as a hobby “to accompany my father” on the golf course. What she did not know was over a passage of time she would develop such an intense bonding for the game that “I just cannot stop playing!” she laughs.

Batra lists out economic disparity as one of the reasons which hinders the path of women. She rues, “It is unfortunate that till date, the prize money awarded to women golfers is abysmally low as compared to that of our male counterparts.” She notes other challenges women golfers have to grapple with, “Society expects girls to handle household chores. While some are lucky enough to receive family support post-marriage, the rest aren’t.” 

Amandeep Drall, who graduated from Government College for Girls two years back, observes that, “Lack of support from family and in-laws keeps female players from coming to the fore.”  

Encourage ‘her’   

Golfer Saaniya Sharma has now earned the titles of a coach and referee as well. She trains budding golfers as part of the Junior Training Programme and believes efforts should be made to acquaint people with the game. “A lot of young girls are enthusiastic about the sport, but lose interest owing to lack of awareness.” Sharma blames cricket craze for overshadowing other sports.

Madhu Brar, who made a foray into golf nearly three decades back, offers a word of advice to aspiring female golfers, “There will be many ups and downs, but do not give up!” 

Shalini Sheoran, who is training under Jesse Grewal, too shares that family support is a must for female golfers to reach their potential.  

Young take 

Senior vice-president of Chandigarh Golf Association, Jagdeep Cheema, acknowledges the boost “in the enthusiasm of young girls for golf over the years.”

Heena Kang, a class VIII student of Chandigarh’s Sacred Heart Senior Secondary School, shares, “Looking at so many young girls making a foray into golf is inspirational for other up and coming golfers.”

Another eighth grader from Vivek High School, Vasundhra Thiara, took a liking to golf when she was barely three. “My parents observed that my hand-coordination was akin to that of a sportsperson and there begun my journey in the realm of golf.” The admirer of Swedish Golf player Annika Sorenstam shares that it warms her heart to behold so many young girls venturing on the golf course and “proving that we are at par with men.”

The gender bias in golf is huge: Anisha

Golfer Anisha Padukone, daughter of badminton player, Prakash Padukone, believes women athletes in India are not given as much respect as their male counterparts. She observes, “The gender bias is huge. Also, India is not the safest country in the world for women to travel alone for competitions.” Acknowledging the prize money disparity in the sport, she shares, “Tennis has recently started awarding equal prize money to men and women players. Golf should follow suit.” She adds that for a female counterpart of Anirban Lahiri to emerge from our country, we most certainly need “greater females taking up the sport”.