MUMBAI: The magnificent exploits of Team USA in the just concluded 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup, which has captured the imagination of pundits and fans the world over, has also caught the attention of Mahindra & Mahindra chairman Anand Mahindra.
Mahindra took to Twitter calling for India to invest more into Indian woman’s football. Tagging Minister of State for Youth Affairs & Sports Kiren Rijuju, he posted on Twitter: “Perhaps we should be investing far more in our women’s soccer. Our women are globally competitive sprinters, distance runners, gymnasts & wrestlers. On the world stage, their physical prowess has exceeded that of our men. Could they be world-beaters in soccer. @KirenRijiju?”
While on the subject of the Women’s World Cup, which Team USA won (retaining the title they won in 2015 in Canada), beating The Netherlands 2-0 in an entertaining final, a shout out to their captain Megan Rapinoe, the biggest star of France 2019.
Rapinoe took home the Golden Boot, the Golden Ball, and won FIFA player of the match during the final, but she also made headlines for criticising US President Donald Trump and championing LGBT rights and women’s equality in football.
As the BBC noted, on social media, she became the most mentioned player of the tournament. Fans praised the 34-year-old co-captain for standing up for her beliefs as well as her prowess on the field – with some joking that she would technically be eligible to run for President against Trump in 2020.
A Washington Post columnist dubbed her sportsperson of the year, and Elle magazine crowned her “the internet’s new girlfriend”.
This was certainly Megan Rapinoe’s World Cup.
