Cornering the courts: Chennai’s public sports spaces are not always inclusive, say young women

Chennai offers numerous parks, playfields, and courts, but women face challenges accessing indoor spaces, highlighting the need for change.

“In Chennai, we have around 908 parks, 542 playfields, 27 indoor badminton courts, 73 outdoor courts, 30 indoor basketball courts, 44 football fields, 3 swimming pools, as well as 185 gyms currently in operation,” says a senior official from the Parks and Playfields department. “Out of these, currently nine gyms are exclusively for women. When it comes to court access, whether it is badminton or basketball, there are no designated time slots for women. Everyone is welcome to play,” adds the official.

Meanwhile, a walk through the city’s parks and playfields that host indoor and outdoors courts, an overlooked narrative teeters. From women jogging with their smartwatches and earbuds in, or those simply strolling through the park, there is a silent thread that ties their experiences together on belonging, often dismissed as trivial in the grand scheme of things.

At Thiru Vi Ka park in Shenoy Nagar that hosts from badminton to volleyball courts, 18 year old Ridhubarna S.M., a former state-level volleyball player opens up about her personal experience. “The indoor courts are practically off-limits for girls,” she says. “They are packed with men from 5 a.m. to 9p.m. every day. It is not like we are not allowed, but it is just overcrowded that we are pushed out by default. Honestly, I have stopped playing volleyball altogether because there is no exclusive space created for us,” she adds. A guest lecturer at The Tamil Nadu Physical Education and Sports University, who did not want to be named said, “Unless women start voicing that they are being sidelined when it comes to using indoor courts at parks, it is commonly assumed they are not interested in sports,” she said.

S. Sailakshmi, a 23 year old student who visits the Thiru Vi Ka park for a regular run, observes the lack of visibility and participation of women. “I have resorted to running around the park for the past 2 years, because the courts are full, but you will hardly see women playing. If we have designated days or prominent and convenient time slots for women to use the indoor and outdoor court spaces, it would largely encourage many to utilise these spaces,” shares Ms Sailakshmi. “This is about shifting norms, not just rules. It would be great if we could have an online booking for these public indoor and outdoor courts, so there will be equitable access and not dominated by only boys playing during the peak hours. It would also avoid conflict too, I suppose,” she further adds.

Ashin Teni, a native of Kanyakumari who was preparing for competitive exams at a playground in Kambar Colony, Anna Nagar West that hosts an indoor badminton court, Ms Teni stressed that access is important. “I can’t afford private sports courts or academies, and that is why public spaces like these are important for women. While we are glad that the Chennai Corporation has built gyms exclusively for women, more attention could be given to inclusive playgrounds too,” she said.