Do not bond sports with religion and culture, it’s an unbiased fraternity

NewsBharati    16-Jun-2018
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Mumbai, June 16: Do not bond sports with religion and culture, it’s an unbiased fraternity says Star Indian woman Grandmaster and former world junior girls’ champion Soumya Swaminathan when she rejected to be in Indian Women's team as a participant for Asian Nations Cup Chess Championship to be held in Iran where there is a law of “compulsory headscarf or Burqa”


 

"A violation of her basic human rights," says Swaminathan. Asian Nations Cup (Asian Team) Chess Championship 2018 is to be held at Iran from 26 July - 4 August this year in Hamadan, Iran. Former world junior girls’ champion Soumya Swaminathan was also a part of Indian contingent before refusing to participate in the tournament over the compulsory wearing of headscarf or Burqa in Iran calling it a violation of her basic human rights.

Swaminathan further said, “I am very disappointed to see that player's rights and welfare are given much less importance while allotting and/or organizing official championships. I understand the organizers expecting us to wear our National Team Dress or Formals or Sporting attire for our games during official championships, but surely there is no place for an enforceable religious dress code in Sports.”

“It is a huge honour for me to represent India everytime I am selected in the National Team and I deeply regret that I will be unable to participate in such an important championship. While we sportspersons are willing to make several adjustments for the sake of our sport, always giving it top priority in our life, some things simply cannot be compromised,” she concluded.