CSR: Indian Women In Extreme Adventure Sports
Women have always had to fight gender stereotypes. The girls are brought up to believe that they are not meant to do certain jobs. That they are too weak to take up extreme adventure. In fact, because of this conditioning when we think of adventure, we often visualise a man going off the track in search of thrill and excitement.
Women represent 51% of the world’s population. Not having them taking initiatives in every field is holding that particular field back. There are a few women in India who have fought these stereotypes by taking up and excelling in extreme adventure sports. Let us get to know a few of them.
- Bachendri Pal
The conversation of Indian women in extreme adventure sports is incomplete without the mention of Bachendri Pal. Pal is a mountaineer who made history by becoming the first Indian woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest in 1984. She has bagged several awards for mountaineering, including the Padmashree in 1985.
- Ishita Malaviya
Ishita Malaviya is the first professional female surfer in India. She began surfing in 2007 and hasn’t stopped since. She runs a Shaka Surf Club in Karnataka.
- Anissa Lamare
Anissa Lamare is an art student who competes in downhill mountain biking. She is the only woman in India to compete in Downhill mountain biking and she does so in men’s category.
- Basica Salam and Antima Bisht
Basica Salam and Antima Bisht are longboarders from Navi Mumbai. Basica is an ambassador for Longboarding Girls Crew India, a longboarding community which is linked with an international group from Spain.
- Rinzing Doma Bhutia
Rinzing Doma Bhutia is the only woman in India to represent the country at the Pre Paragliding World Cup in Bir Billing.
- Bhakti Sharma
Bhakti Sharma is an open swimmer. She has set a world record after swimming 1.4 miles in 52 minutes in the Atlantic Ocean, the coldest ocean in the world.
- Archana Sardana
Archana Sardana is the first Indian civilian base jumper and skydiver. She has made over 300 skydives, 60 underwater dives and several BASE dives all over the world.
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The CSR Journal Team
