Divya Deshmukh: India chess player's Instagram post sparks sexism discussion - BBC News

Divya Deshmukh's Instagram post received support from thousands, including stars like Susan Polgar.

4 days agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Tata Steel ChessImage caption, Divya Deshmukh's Instagram post has sparked a discussion on sexism in chessBy Cherylann MollanBBC News, MumbaiAn 18-year-old Indian chess player has sparked a conversation on attitudes towards women in the sport with an Instagram post about her experiences.

Divya Deshmukh, who is an International Master (the second-highest title in chess), said that her chess videos often received online comments that focused on her appearance rather than her games.

"It's a sad truth that when women play chess, [people] often overlook how good they actually are… and every irrelevant thing is focused on," she wrote, adding that she had wanted to address the issue "for a while".

Deshmukh shared the post at the end of the recent Tata Steel Chess tournament held in the Netherlands as she said that the behaviour of the audience had irked her throughout the competition. The organisers of the tournament later issued a statement supporting her and said that they "remain committed to promoting women in chess and ensuring a safe and equal sporting environment".

Sexism is still an under-discussed topic in chess, which is one of the few mainstream sports where men and women often compete against each other. Deshmukh's post, experts say, has ignited a crucial conversation on the behaviour of fans and even male players towards women in chess - even grandmaster Susan Polgar joined in.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-68201529?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=KARANGA

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