Kicking Down Barriers: How Two Women Empowered 20,000 Indian Sisters in Sport

It all started with a casual conversation over dinner, a friendly kickabout, and a spark of inspiration. Fast forward nine years, and Tanvie Hans and Swetha Subbiah have built a thriving community of 20,000 women who are taking the sporting world by storm. Back in 2017, during a breezy Bengaluru evening, the former professional footballer Tanvie Hans found herself answering a familiar question: "Can you teach me to play football?" Without hesitation, she agreed, and soon gathered 17 eager women for her first football session. What began as a small gathering has blossomed into Sisters in Sweat, India’s largest women-first sports community. Co-founded by Hans and performance coach Swetha Subbiah, the initiative spans 10 cities, from Chandigarh to Chennai, and has made football one of its central attractions. “It wasn’t a planned venture,” Hans recalls. “We didn’t realize there was a need for this type of community until we saw it grow organically. We were simply two women passionate about sports, and it resonated.” Sisters in Sweat offers coach-led football sessions two to three times a week, catering to women of all skill levels. With an entry fee of around 300 Indian rupees (less than £2.50), any woman looking to try football or get back into it is welcome. The format is straightforward, mirroring the initial session from 2017. Each gathering begins with introductions and a briefing from the coach, followed by warm-ups and group drills designed to foster camaraderie. With lively music setting the tone, the session wraps up with a casual 30-minute match. First-timers often leave with broad smiles, having enjoyed both a workout and the chance to connect with new friends. “Participants often feel empowered,” Hans explains. “They realize, ‘I can play football and improve. I can’t wait to come back.’ The sense of belonging is palpable.” Beyond just building friendships, Sisters in Sweat provides women with safe spaces to engage in physical activity—something increasingly hard to come by in India’s bustling cities. As the fitness market in India is set to nearly double by 2030, the growth of this community reflects a larger trend in the industry. Subbiah shares a story of her cousin from the UK who enjoyed Sisters in Sweat sessions while in India but struggled to find a similar community back home. “We’ve recognized a gap that many women elsewhere also experience,” she reflects. At its core, Sisters in Sweat addresses a significant issue: the alarming dropout rate of women in sports after school or university. In a society often steeped in patriarchal norms, women face barriers that discourage them from participating in sports or even going out alone. “Once a woman transitions from student to wife, her priorities shift,” Subbiah notes, emphasizing the societal pressures that restrict women’s freedom. “The expectation is to manage household responsibilities, and personal time becomes scarce.” Moreover, societal beauty standards often deter women from engaging in outdoor sports for fear of tanning or losing their perceived attractiveness. “We challenge these norms,” Subbiah insists. “We want women to embrace the outdoors, celebrate their bodies, and enjoy sports.” Sisters in Sweat continues to pave the way for a new generation of women who are redefining their roles in society, proving that sport can be a powerful tool for empowerment and connection.