Right from Lovlina Borgohain and Ravi Kumar Dahiya to Mirabai Chanu; Indian sportspersons left no stone unturned to make their country proud of their stellar performances at the Tokyo Olympics. While the men’s hockey team won a bronze medal, the Indian women’s hockey team unfortunately, lost the semi-final match against Argentina.
In a shocking incident, some men misbehaved outside a team member’s home in Haridwar. The family of Vandana Katariya, who plays as forward in the Indian national team shared that along with bursting firecrackers, the miscreants passed casteist abuses at them.
TOI reports that they alleged the team lost because it had ‘too many Dalit players’. Vandana’s brother Shekhar said, “We were upset after the loss. But the team went down fighting. We were proud of that.”
He added, “Suddenly, right after the match, we heard loud noises. Crackers were being burst outside our house. When we went outside, we saw two men from our village, we know them and they are upper castes, dancing in front of our house.”
— Vandana Katariya (@VandanaHockey) September 12, 2016
Narrating what happened next, he continued, “They used caste slurs, insulted our family and said the Indian team lost because too many Dalits (the men used a specific caste slur) have made it to the team. They went on, saying that it’s not just hockey but every sport that should keep Dalits out. Then, they took some of their clothes off and started dancing again,” he concluded.
People online were outraged by this unprovoked incident and took to Twitter to shower support on Vandana and her family.
Reality of India for those seeking to deny caste identity. “Upper caste” men abuse women’s hockey team member shouting “too many Dalit players”. #DalitLivesMatter #womenshockey pic.twitter.com/sK8YJXlBlk
— Sagarika Ghose (@sagarikaghose) August 5, 2021
Castiest slurs spat at Vandana's family for being a Dalit and losing in the Olympics.
If only there was a sport for bigots in Olympics India would win gold everytime#VandanaKatariya #womenshockey
— Joel Giftson (@JoelGiftson17) August 5, 2021
#hockeyindia #womenshockey
Yes, it is the 21st century and THIS is where we still are as a country!! pic.twitter.com/VxrMOFOlGe— Chaitanya King (@king3262) August 5, 2021
Vandana katariya could not attend the funeral of her father as she was with INDIAN HOCKEY TEAM. And what is she facing now ? Casteist abuse and slurs , attack on her family .Attacking player like Vandana is nothing but attacking Mother India. We all should apologise to her . pic.twitter.com/WYy10ubbbU
— Subham 🏃 (@subhsays) August 5, 2021
When England supporters racially abused Rashford, Sancho and Saka after the Euros, the entire world supported them.
Yesterday, casteist slurs were hurled at Vandana's family after India lost to Argentina in women’s hockey semi-final.
Where are our celebrities and politicians?
— Advaid അദ്വൈത് (@Advaidism) August 5, 2021
This is highly Condemnable !
Shame on such Sick mindset people existing in the Society.https://t.co/kDjowuzKnH— Sonal Goel IAS (@sonalgoelias) August 5, 2021
a country where cricketers like Vinod Kambli and Palwankar Baloo face discrimination bcoz of their caste. Google searches for PV Sindhu’s caste jumps up after she wins. and Vandana Katariya’s family has to deal with casteist abuses, after scoring a hat-trick. is this merit?
— Agatha Srishtie 🌸 (@SrishtyRanjan) August 5, 2021
“We have received a complaint and inquiry is on, after which a case will be filed,” SHO of Sidcul police station LS Butola confirmed. “One man whose name came up has been detained,” he added.
Don’t you agree that it’s time we put an end to all forms of discrimination?