Four phenomenal athletes, four inspiring stories—Joshna Chinappa, Harmanpreet Kaur, MR Poovamma and Vinesh Phogat talk to ELLE about triumphing against all odds.
From cricket to wrestling, India’s sportswomen have made her proud at international championships. But it’s not been an easy journey—they have suffered, not only due to a lack of infrastructure, but also due to prejudice and stereotypes.
Squash player Joshna Chinappa, sprinter MR Poovamma, cricketer Harmanpreet Kaur and wrestler Vinesh Phogat are four Nike athletes who dared to dream big, trained hard, and then set out to create history. The brand, which has a track record of backing athletes, believes sport can mould and drive positive change. For example, its recent #MakeTheWorldListen campaign that encouraged women to pursue sport without caring for judgement. From January to May, it empowered women from different walks of life to break stereotypes through complimentary fitness sessions and a sports carnival that culminated in a three-kilometre run in Mumbai last month.
Underscoring Nike’s belief in equality in sport, Chinappa, Poovamma, Kaur and Phogat, who each overcame barriers, share their stories with ELLE.
JOSHNA CHINAPPA, SQUASH
Hailing from a family of squash players, Joshna Chinappa grew up playing various sports at Madras Cricket Club, but veered towards squash. Her father introduced her to the game when she was 10, and ever since, she harboured the dream of representing her country as a squash player. Not only did she realise this dream, but in 2016, she also broke into the world top ten ranking at number 10. The 32-year-old has won medals at the Asian Games and the Commonwealth Games. “The journey so far has been quite a ride, but the wins are extremely satisfying,” she says.
This story is from the June 2019 edition of Elle India.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the June 2019 edition of Elle India.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
FULL THROTTLE
F2 rising star Kush Maini on his racing journey & challenges in motorsport. Ekta Sinha hitches a ride
VIJAY VARMA MAN OF THE MOMENT
Amidst the barrage of releases, Vijay Varma's dignified reticence is enveloped in thoughtful consideration, reports Ipsita Kaul
ROHIT SARAF THE GEN Z STAR
The new generation heartthrob talks about his love for romcoms, music, and future endeavours with Ekta Sinha
Roaring RAJASTHAN
From Jawai's dramatic landscape and Jaisalmer's rich heritage to Ranthambore's enthralling wilderness-Isha Mayer explores SUJÁN's luxurious, eco-conscious hospitality offerings in the beautiful state
Ectoin: The Skin's New Defence
Krishika Bhatia explores a revolutionary skincare breakthrough that merges nature and science, featuring insights from industry experts
Nigella's WORLD
The British celebrity chef shares the secret recipe to her effortless charm in the kitchen with Isha Mayer
ADRIATIC DRIFT
Stari Grad is Croatia's hidden gem waiting to be explored, finds Isha Mayer
Unapologetically MOSTLY SANE
The multi-hyphenate artist fills Maahi Shah in on the fun things she's working on, what meeting Michelle Obama was like, & how she stays grounded
SANYA MALHOTRA POWERHOUSE OF VERSATILITY
The actor lets Maahi Shah in on her female-forward acting choices, growing through the tribulations of the imposter syndrome and the big little things that make her proud to be a woman
H&M GOES BRAT
Popstar Charli XCX's celebration of the fashion brand's Autumn/ Winter 2024 campaign offered a window to its refreshed trajectory, reports Haiqa Siddiqui