Mithali Raj Reacts To Naomi Osaka's Decision, Says Women's Cricket Needs Media Support

Naomi Osaka controversy: Indian cricketer Mithali Raj reacted to Naomi Osaka row, her decision to avoid media, during a press conference on Tuesday.

She said that she has personally never felt the need to 'forego press conferences', and that women's cricket needs a lot of media support. She stressed the importance of promoting the sport.

"Well, I think it is tough to be in quarantine for any athlete. But, I think getting into a tournament, we do not feel that. Personally, I have not felt that I should forgo a press conference because women's cricket right now where it stands, it needs media support and it is important for players also to sort of try and help in the growth of the sport. So we need to try to promote the sport," she said during a virtual press conference.

What is the Naomi Osaka controversy all about?

On Monday, Japanese tennis player, Naomi Osaka decided to withdraw from the ongoing French Open tournament. This happened after she had announced that she won't be addressing any media at the Roland Garros (another name for the French Open).

After her victory in the first round of the tournament, Naomi Osaka refused to speak to the media and was fined a whopping $15,000, for the same.

pic.twitter.com/LN2ANnoAYD

— NaomiOsaka大坂なおみ (@naomiosaka) May 31, 2021

Osaka revealed that she made the decision for the sake of her mental well-being. In her Twitter post, she stated that she didn't want to 'trivialize mental health.'

She also revealed that she had suffered long bouts of depression, during the 2018 US Open, and she has been having a tough time coping with it. Osaka said that she often wears headphones during tournaments, to dull down her social anxiety. She added that she often feels anxious while speaking to the media.

The French Open received a lot of backlash for threatening Osaka with a potential disqualification and ban from future tournaments. TV presenter Piers Morgan, too criticised her.

Osaka has garnered support from Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif, tennis player Serena Williams, among others.