AIDWA asks government to seriously examine Sania's charge of male chauvinism in sports

LUCKNOW: All India Democratic Women's Association (AIDWA) has written to union sports minister Ajay Maken urging the sports ministry and concerned authorities to seriously examine Sania Mirza's charge of 'male chauvinism' in sports and the use of her name as a seasoned woman tennis player as 'bait' by decision makers in the All India Tennis Association.
In a press statement AIDWA president Shyamali Gupta and general secretary Sudha Sundararaman saiad AIDWA stands with Sania Mirza in her speaking out against the insensitivity shown by concerned authorities and the humiliation of sportswomen."On behalf of women and sportsperson of this country, AIDWA demands that the ministry fixes responsibility and takes action against those who are the cause of such a sorry state of affairs. It extends its support to the sportswomen of this country who have frequently been at the receiving end of the apathy, indifference and callous approach of the sports authorities," they said.
AIDWA's reaction has come after tennis player Sania Mirza issued a press release on Tuesday last lashed out at the All India Tennis Association (AITA) for decision to pair her with Leander Paes in the mixed doubles event to get the latter to agree to participate at the London Games, saying the decision reeked of 'male chauvinism'.
"As an Indian woman belonging to the 21st century, what I find disillusioning is the humiliating manner in which I was put up as a bait to try and pacify one of the disgruntled stalwarts of Indian tennis. While I feel honored and privileged to have been chosen to partner Leander Paes, the manner and timing of the announcement wreaks of male chauvinism...". She added this arrangement by the AITA was a 'blatant humiliation' of Indian womanhood needs to be condemned even if it comes from the highest controlling body of tennis in our country.
Badminton player Jwala Gutta had backed player Sania's claim that male chauvinism is part of Indian sports. "AITA should have consulted Sania before taking the decision. It's shocking the way they dealt with the entire episode. The association should have called the players and everybody's opinion would have mattered," Jwala had said when asked reacted on Sania's statement.