Women's Day: Deepika Kumari reveals battle with gender inequality, skin colour

Archery ace Deepika Kumari reveals how she battled and overcame discrimination in her home state, Jharkhand

Deepika Kumari

India's archery queen Deepika Kumari, 23, has hit the bullseye citing her own example in her attempt to highlight the issue of gender inequality on International Women's Day. Kumari, who is in the city today to launch her Netflix documentary, Ladies First, detailing her journey from a lowly slum in Jharkhand to the height of global archery, revealed how she has not just been discriminated on gender but also on colour.

"It's sad but true that the colour of one's skin matters more here in India than abroad, and that too to educated people. In fact, there are many people from my own state of Jharkhand, who speak negatively about the colour of my skin. Over time I have learnt to ignore them. Contrastingly, abroad, I have received compliments like 'your smile makes my day.' I feel it's high time we respect women and not discriminate against them by referring to them as pretty if they are fair and ridiculing them if they are dark," Deepika, told mid-day yesterday.

Also Read: Women's Day: Ranbir Kapoor's message on World No 1 Archer, Deepika Kumari is inspiring

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