Racism is one of the biggest evils in sports across the globe. While sports is seen by many as a force which has the ability to promote unity among the different set of people, unfortunately, some unsocial elements are hindering it with racism.
At a time when the man has made unprecedented success in the field of science and technology, some still downgrade others on the basis of skin colour.
In fact, instead of slowing down, racism is increasing at an alarming rate and if the governing bodies do not take some stern steps in the near future, it can take the form of another deadly social evil.
The players and athletes across the world have strongly protested towards this evil and the latest to come out in support of curbing racism is Indian opening batsman Abhinav Mukund.
Narrating his journey since he started playing cricket, he wrote on Twitter:
“I have been playing cricket since the age of 10 and I have gradually climbed up the ladder to where I am right now. It is an honour to get the chance to represent the country at the highest level. I am writing today not to garner sympathy or attention but…with the hope to change the mindset of people on an issue I feel strongly about.”
“I have been travelling a lot within and outside our country since I was 15. Ever since I was young, people’s obsession with my skin colour has always been a mystery to me. Any one who follows cricket would understand the obvious. I have played and trained day in and day out in the sun and not once have I regretted the fact that I have tanned or lost a couple of shades. It is simply because I love what I do and I have been able to achieve certain things only because I have spent hours outdoor. I come from Chennai probably one of the hottest places in our country and I have gladly spent most of my adult life in the cricket ground.”
— Abhinav Mukund (@mukundabhinav) August 9, 2017
The Tamil Nadu star further wrote that he was called by different names due to his skin colour and although the hit affected him when he was young, he slowly became tough and focused just on his career.
“I have been subject to a lot of name calling and I have laughed and shrugged it off because I had bigger goals! Affected young, I toughened up because this was never something that would pull me down. There were many times when I chose not to dignify these insults with responses.”
He concluded by urging everyone to remain comfortable with whatever skin colour they have.
“With the rise of social media, it has gone to a magnitude that I see people hurling abuses left, right and centre at something I have absolutely no control over. Fair isn’t the only lovely or handsome guys. Stay true, stay focussed, be comfortable in your own skin,” he concluded.
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When people started assuming that, this message from the left hander is targeted towards his national teammates. The Chennai-born came up with another tweet to clear the air, Mukund posted a series of tweets, stating:
Guys please don't turn this into something else,it has absolutely no connection to anyone in the team. It is mainly targeted at people 1/2
— Abhinav Mukund (@mukundabhinav) August 10, 2017
Who have been posting abuses about colour and saying absolutely derogatory things about the tone of my skin. That s all !
— Abhinav Mukund (@mukundabhinav) August 10, 2017