Having tried her luck in a BKSP trial after picking up bow and arrows for the first time in 2017 as an eighth-grade student in Nilphamari, Diya Siddique never quite looked back ever since. Fast-forward to becoming an Olympian in 2021 in Tokyo, she also clinched silver in the Archery World Cup this year to create history for Bangladesh. As a significant contributor to the country’s sporting success in 2021, the 17-year-old shared her thoughts on women’s progress and scope while speaking to The Daily Star’s Ashfaq Ul Mushfiq.

The Daily Star (DS): In 2021, where the men failed to bring success in the international levels, the women on the other hand, yourself included, brought tremendous sporting glory for Bangladesh. What’s your take on that?

Diya Siddique: The way the standard of Bangladesh women’s sports has gradually improved so far, I think this is a very positive sign for us given that women usually lag much behind men in terms of sports in this country. We have seen the women’s cricket team qualify for the ODI world cup, and the U-19 girls become the SAFF Champions in football. On social media, I’ve seen people urge the boys to learn a thing or two from the girls (smiles). Actually, these girls have been through so much in their lives, they get hell-bent on proving doubters wrong.

DS: Do you see this year’s success by our women to carry on to the future?   

Diya: The way we are evolving, I think it’s very possible to sustain success for a long time, but only if we get a proper safety net in return for our struggle and hard work. I think the girls of Bangladesh possess an ample spirit that enables them to achieve anything. They are determined to do well for their country, their families, and for themselves.

DS: We have seen noticeable wage differences between men and women in sports, not only in Bangladesh but also around the world. As a professional archer, have you faced such discrimination?

Diya: Not really. We archers play for different agencies, and as far as I know, both men and women get equal payment based on their ranks. However, we don’t get any salary from the national team. We do get some remuneration every month, but it’s more akin to pocket money for buying soaps and shampoo (smiles). If anyone plays for defence [Service teams], they get extra payment if they perform well, or else they have to settle with the regular monthly salary.