A sisterhood that nurtures, revives lost love for sports

Early Sunday morning, Cubbon Park saw some spunk and a rush of adrenalin as about 50 women from across the city gathered for a 5km run. Bengaluru witnesses several marathons and long-distance runs but this one was different — after all, it was part of a growing culture of women engaging in sports.
It was the first time that the group was attempting a long-distance event.The women are part of a community — Sisters in Sweat (SIS) — with more than 6,000 members. The cohort, which began as a WhatsApp group of 15 women in Bengaluru in November 2018, now has a presence in Mumbai as well.
The community seeks to provide every woman who has the desire to engage in sport, the opportunity to do so. The members come together to play one or the other sport every week at various places across the city. Basketball, football, touch rugby, badminton and kickboxing are some of the top draws. It arranges venues for the sporting events and announces the schedule on its website for those interested.
After the 5km run on Sunday, six women from the community turned up at a basketball court, off MG Road. Among them was Deepa Susan George, an IT professional, who had left the sport 20 years ago. “Finding a group to play with at a time that suited me was a major challenge,” said the working mother.
Performance coach and cofounder of the community, Swetha Subbiah, said a friend requested for a football session back in 2018. “Tanvie Hans (footballer and cofounder) and I asked our friends if they would join in, considering it’s a team sport. Once the game was over and we hung around for breakfast, we decided to continue every weekend, and here we are five years later,” she said.
A huge impediment for working women keen on sports is the inability to find groups. “We notice that men continue to play after school as they find their groups. Often a woman has to join a group of guys. While some are fine with it, some find it intimidating due to the sheer differences in physique. Another problem is women are saddled with multiple responsibilities, including household chores, and prioritising sports becomes tough. Usually, in a basket of choices, sports is the first casualty. Safety is another concern.” said Swetha, who has worked towards bringing together a community of women in safe spaces.
While women sportspersons still find a gap in sponsors coming forward to support their games and training, the community is trying to work out a solution. Swetha said they are working on a programme to include underprivileged women, considering its impact on existing members.
TIMES VIEW
In a gender-tinted world, women can be the best cheerleaders for one another and sports the finest medium to thrive collectively. Sisters in Sweat started small but the community’s growth demonstrates its impact. Group activities are often not conducive for women as they juggle multiple roles between home and office. In a cohesive cohort like SIS, women can overcome the impediments, which makes their banding together viable. While the physical benefits derived out of engaging in any sport are discernible, the mental lift that it gives is immeasurable. With SIS chapters in Bengaluru and Mumbai, more women should be able to vibe with their tribe.