Athletes Taking a Stand: India's Sporting Figures Against Discrimination

In the Tokyo Olympics, Vandana Katariya of India's national hockey team became the first Indian woman to score a hattrick in the Olympics. Despite her achievement, she and her family faced shocking casteist abuse back home in Haridwar, Uttarakhand. The focus turned from compliments for the team's run to the abuse, which was ignored by many.

India's hockey team captain, Rani Rampal, strongly stood up against these abhorrent acts during a virtual press conference. She requested people to abandon religious divide and casteism, insisting that despite coming from different religions and places in India, their focus was solely on representing their country. 

A few months later, India cricketer Mohammad Shami was subject to communal abuse after a loss to Pakistan in the 2021 T20 World Cup. Virat Kohli, the Indian cricket team captain, openly condemned such behavior, indicating that he found targeting someone over religion utterly pathetic.

These incidents highlight the broader social role that athletes play. Arguably beyond the ambit of their professions, these athletes are part of the same society they're raising their voices against. As Rani Rampal announced her retirement, it's crucial to admire not just her performance on the field but also her robust stance against discrimination and abuse. It's a testament to her leadership, a trait that she shares with Kohli, who has similarly spoken up against bigotry.