Now Reading: Two queer athletes from Bengaluru win eight medals at Gay Games in Spain
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Two queer athletes from Bengaluru win eight medals at Gay Games in Spain
Two queer athletes from Bengaluru returned from Valencia, Spain, with eight medals from the International Gay Games. Gowthami Kandhasami (26) won four gold medals in high jump, 5km run, 10km indoor run,…
The Story in Brief
Two queer athletes from Bengaluru returned from Valencia, Spain, with eight medals from the International Gay Games. Gowthami Kandhasami (26) won four gold medals in high jump, 5km run, 10km indoor run, and marathon in the women's 25-29 category, plus two silvers. Sumit Pawar (35) won gold in javelin throw.
Both are among only three resident Indians who participated. They received scholarships from the organisers and their running club, Bengaluru Frontrunners. Gowthami said the club, which she joined during the lockdown, helped her reconnect with her body positively. Sumit noted that sports in India often exclude those outside the male-female binary. At the opening ceremony, he said, he felt like an athlete representing India, not just a queer one.
The Indian Opinion
The medals are real. The narrative of total exclusion needs scrutiny. Yes, Dutee Chand faced village backlash, but Gowthami and Sumit got scholarships from organisers and a Bengaluru running club. Many Indian athletes, queer or not, battle for sponsorship. The real test is not just the state government creating new categories outside the male-female binary, but whether existing sports bodies like SAI will fund and train athletes regardless of orientation. Will Gowthami and Sumit get Arjuna Award consideration?
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
