Why Women Belong in the Sporting World

Whenever I look back on my journey as a female athlete, I always mentally thank and honour the important women in my life who have been my pillars of support � my mother, my sisters, my coach and many more who have shaped me into who I am today.

The truth is that female inclusivity in sports has come a long way. It is a hard-earned journey that is paved by the courage and audacity of women before us, so that today, we are not afraid to go against the status quo and break gender stereotypes. Thanks to them, the women of today have more opportunities to participate and excel in the professional sporting world.

The solution to the first barrier sounds simple but it requires the greatest collective effort from everyone � women, men, adult, children, athletes, and non-athletes alike � as it is not easy to erase years of systematically-ingrained gender stereotypes.

Instead of calling a female athlete �rough� or �muscular�, how about we tell girls how determined, strong, healthy and powerful they can become because they are active and play sports. By letting girls know that they are strong and empowering them to refine their skills in sport, they can develop the confidence to do anything that they set their minds to.

In Malaysia, I am honoured to be recognised for my achievements rather than my gender � I was never seen differently for being a female athlete. I felt tremendous pride in putting my country on the world map and, throughout my squash career and until today, everyone across the nation has been incredibly supportive.

And worse, there are critics out there who deliberately compare women to men to create sensationalism. Comparing doesn�t help either side. For female athletes, it only makes things harder for them to step up and shine in their own light.

I was lucky that I had such a strong support system growing up. My parents have always been my biggest cheerleaders. They never once pressured me or my sisters to excel in our sports or studies. Rather, they encouraged us to do our best, brought us to all our squash lessons and competitions, were there for me when I was abroad, and knew what to do whenever I was down and needed the right motivation to push on.