PT Usha Voices Concern Over Safety Of Female Athletes

Veteran track and field athlete PT Usha recently shared her concern regarding the safety of female athletes at the Usha School Of Athletics in Kerala. She raised the issue and demanded action from the Chief Minister of Kerala, Pinarayi Vijayan.

The issue of less female participation in sports in India is slowly eradicating with increasing awareness and schemes to encourage female sportspeople. However, one thing that still remains a concern for many is the safety of female athletes which is compromised from time to time. PT Usha, veteran track and field athlete, recently raised the issue of safety of female athletes at the Usha School Of Athletics in Kerala and asked Kerala CM to take strict action in the matter.

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PT Usha On Safety Of Female Athletes

Usha School Of Athletics is situated in Kerala's Kinalur region and aims at providing top class training and practice facilities to aspiring female athletes and help in their skill development. In a recent interview, PT Usha reportedly said that the institute is often trespassed by drug addicts and couples during the night which poses threat to the safety of female athletes.

The athlete reportedly said, "Some people barged into the compound of Usha School of Athletics and began construction work. When management confronted them, they misbehaved. They claimed that they had permission from Panangad panchayat, we complained to police and work was stopped". She complained that these incidents happened more than once and they have not yet been able to build a boundary or fence around the institute to ensure the safety of athletes.

PT Usha raised concern over the female athletes being targeted and requested Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan to take strict actions regarding the matter. The safety of sportswomen recently became a hot topic when leading Indian wrestlers like Bajranj Punia and Vinesh Phogat started protesting against the president of Wresting Federation of India Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh because of sexual misconduct. The Haryana sports minister Sandeep Singh was also recently accused of harassing a junior athletics coach which shows the state of sportswomen in India.