Mixed Reactions over the Switch to Trousers from Women Athletes

The “Saree” has been in the news for the past couple of weeks. So is it this week. The Indian women athletes will be seen wearing trousers and blazers during the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games, 2018 at Gold Coast in Australia, on April 4. Indian women athletes have been wearing saree along with a blazer during most of the opening ceremonies of various games. The switch to trousers and blazers from sarees and blazers was announced by the Indian Olympic Association.

“It is a matter of comfort,” said IOA secretary-general Rajeev Mehta.

“We received feedback that wearing a sari for such a long time isn’t convenient for the athletes. Opening ceremonies usually carry on for four-five hours. Also, they need help to wear it, which complicates things for them. So, we have decided that men and women will wear similar clothes for the ceremony,” said Rajeev Mehta.

The decision to change the attire for the women athletes and having a similar dress code received mixed reactions.

 According to Telangana Today, “PV Sindhu said it will be a different feeling when she will wear trousers instead of the saree at the opening ceremony’s march past. Wearing a saree has a distinctive flavour. I wore it during the Rio Olympics.’’

Shooter Heena Sidhu had a slightly different take and expressed the same to The Indian Express. She said, “Blazers and trousers are definitely more convenient and will save a lot of time, but, at the same time, one may look like a man. Why not blazers and skirts? It’s more feminine.”

Olympian Jwala Gutta said, “I love saris. I always found saris very beautiful and elegant. There are many who are uncomfortable and find it difficult to wear saris. I feel for them. But if given a choice, I’d still prefer a sari. It’s a personal choice. We should be given a choice. There are those who like to wear trousers and those who like to wear saris… We should get the top athletes together — 10 people who they think are sensible and have represented the country for a long time. There’s no harm in taking suggestions.”

While top athletes have reacted to the change, SP Misra, the former non-playing captain of Indian tennis team said that it’s good to change. “It was well appreciated. We have to do away with the tradition and move with changing times,’’ he said to Telangana Today.

Also Read: No Saree, India’s Women Athletes To Sport Trousers In C’wealth Games