Sowing the Seeds of Opportunity in Sports Globally
This is a dispatch from Ujjesha Singh,Global Ambassador for Project: Wander Bra, based in India. Our ambassadors provide global perspectives on the impact of sports, in partnership with the Women’s Sports Foundation. Follow Ujjesha’s adventures @jesha_jpg.
A while ago, I had the opportunity to move across continents, to one of the birthplaces of football - England. Growing up, I saw girls play sports yet rarely pursue them; however, football wasn't one of them. Arguably the biggest sport worldwide, it seemed to have no professional structure in one of the most populated and sport-obsessed nations.
Walking down the roads in this country, all I have witnessed is giant groups of little boys learning football. In the midst of all of them, there would be a girl or a few, playing, learning, growing and fighting. Flashes of greatness are palpable, particularly in sports and I saw girls falling down and then getting up to score absolutely marvellous goals. I saw motivation, drive and ambition in the little girls and I wondered how much of it was made possible by the stars who fought against the odds. The ongoing resurgence of women sports superstars has trickled down to the grassroots; Sam Kerr, Alex Morgan, Aitana Bonmatí, Alexia Putellas, Lauren James, Caroline Graham Hansen, Alessia Russo, Mary Earps, Leah Williamson, etcetera are not just well-known, but well-loved, supported and followed. Seeing someone like yourself play the sport you love at its highest professional level is a different kind of inspiration. It's emotionally taxing to be the first to do something, but what these women have done and continue to do is tell other little girls that they can live out their dreams too. Goals can be achieved and goals can be scored, no matter what the defence throws at you.
I've had the pleasure of conversing with a few kids and their parents who disclosed how important representation was, and also how they saw women being seen as equals in sports to men. They mentioned how small clubs had begun running girls-only teams to promote football, particularly since the Lionesses’ Euro Cup win in ‘22 and finals appearance at the World Cup in ‘23. All I saw around me during this conversation was the prospective future of the Lionesses; strong defenders who were just girls pushing boys once, fast strikers who were just girls dribbling circles around the defence once. My most recent visits were to the erstwhile practice ground of the AFC Coventry Rangers Football Club who, sadly, recently had to disband. I now plan to catch the Coventry women's team’s matches in the hopes of supporting sports on a more personal level.
Whilst all this continues on in person, I shall always retain my membership as a fan of the Barça Femení team who are, per usual, the best in the world. In all this, I recommend everyone to be prepared for the Unrivaled Women's Basketball League, as well. As the wind of media blows women's sports to the forefront time and again, we must make sure it brings with it the tides of positive change and better opportunities.
