Jhulan Goswami seeks scientific research to help women athletes’ during menstrual cycle

New Delhi: Veteran Indian speedster Jhulan Goswami recently talked to former Indian coach WV Raman on his YouTube show called Wednesdays with WV. Jhulan talked about more scientific research needed to understand the effects of women’s menstrual cycles on an athlete. She talked about a challenge that every woman athlete has to face during her career and the lack of a scientific approach may not be good for the well-being of the athlete.

Goswami focused on women cricketers as they have to be on the field for six hours. Talking about her childhood she said, “When I was young, I couldn’t even discuss this topic. I would just keep it to myself, not tell coaches, quietly fighting through it. People should research properly, lots of science is there, and if we can find a way to adjust during those menstrual cycles during competition.”

She added that if a woman athlete is going through her periods during a competition, it becomes a challenge to concentrate on the job. The cricketer talked about how people don’t realise that and start talking ‘Arre yaar, isko kya ho gaya?’, without knowing what is going in the background.

Talking about how it takes great courage to go through hormonal changes and compete, she said, “It’s one thing going through the aches and pains of the body but going through that kind of pain and changes in the body is challenging.” She added that it is tough during match days as it takes a lot of courage to come out of that situation and play for six hours. Jhulan, accepting the challenges, said that one cannot give an excuse for that and that is the beauty the women athletes.

Jhulan Goswami is set to retire from international cricket after the third ODI of India’s tour of England. Her final match will take place at Lord’s on September 24 as BCCI decided to give her an on-field farewell. On the other hand, her biopic Chakda ‘Xpress is also set to release next year. The movie is directed by Prosit Roy and features Anushka Sharma playing the role of Goswami.