Indian Gymkhana FC has long been a cornerstone for sporting excellence and community engagement. In 2024, the club has reached a new milestone, being nominated for the Community Sports Project Award at the prestigious Sporting Equals Awards. This recognition highlights their outstanding initiative, Seeing is Believing (SIB), which is transforming the landscape of football for girls and women from South Asian heritage.
Breaking Barriers with ‘Seeing is Believing’
Launched in 2022, Seeing is Believing was founded on a simple but powerful idea: if you can see it, you can believe it. The project was created to address the visible gap in participation and representation of South Asian females in football, whether that is on the pitch, in the coaching ranks, or within leadership positions. Seeing is Believing is more than just a programme. It is a movement dedicated to creating opportunities, building confidence, and celebrating South Asian women in sport.
By offering a welcoming space for women and girls to engage with football, SIB fosters inclusion and helps challenge outdated perceptions around gender and cultural expectations.
Impact Across Communities
In just two years, Seeing is Believing has delivered and supported 16 impactful events, engaging over 350 girls and women, including 80 young people with special educational needs. These events have included football festivals, tournaments, watch parties, employability programmes, and community-building activities.
Highlights from the last six months include:
- A Women’s World Cup Tournament uniting players across London to celebrate their heritage and passion for football.
- Two vibrant football festivals in Leicester and Derby.
- A powerful panel discussion alongside a screening of Bend it Like Beckham, shining a light on representation in sport and media.
- A sports careers programme at Indian Gymkhana Club, encouraging young South Asian individuals to explore professional opportunities within the sports industry.
The project has also provided valuable volunteering pathways in coaching, social media, project management, and event delivery, helping young women build skills and networks that extend beyond the football field.
The Power of Representation
A core pillar of Seeing is Believing is the celebration of South Asian role models who have broken through barriers in football and sport. By connecting participants with trailblazers such as:
- Kira Rai (Derby County WFC)
- Millie Chandarana (Blackburn Rovers WFC)
- Kaljit Atwal (Professional Football Freestyler)
- Nav Singh (Arsenal FC Coach)
- Manisha Tailor (QPR and Tottenham Hotspur Coach)
- Ali Speechly (The FA)
- Kiran Savage (former Derby County WFC)
- Referees Jarnail Singh and Sukh Sunny
- Sports journalists Zohaib Rashid (Desiballers) and Miriam Walker-Khan (Sky Sports and BrownGirlSport)
SIB creates a genuine sense of belonging for young girls. These role models demonstrate that a future in football is not only possible, but it is achievable.
Inspiring the Next Generation
For many young women in the programme, the opportunity to interact with these successful individuals has been life changing. By seeing people who look like them excel in sport, participants feel empowered to pursue their ambitions, both on and off the pitch. Seeing is Believing offers more than sport, it offers hope, visibility, and opportunity.
Looking Forward
The nomination for the Sporting Equals Community Sports Project Award is a well-deserved acknowledgment of Indian Gymkhana FC’s commitment to inclusion, representation, and community empowerment. As Seeing is Believing continues to grow, Indian Gymkhana FC remains determined to break down barriers and inspire future generations to achieve their full potential.
