I'm a female sports presenter, here's what it's really like being a pundit, you wouldn't believe the sexism I have faced

The Sun

21 hours ago

THIS summer the spotlight is truly on women when it comes to the world of sport.
With the Lionesses storming into the semi-finals of the Euros and the Women's Rugby World Cup set to kick off in August, girl power is the theme on and off the pitch.
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However, unfortunately despite their incredible achievements so many women in the industry are still at the receiving end of toxic sexist comments as Reshmin Chowdhury knows all too well.
'I had to fight hard to be a female sports presenter,' Reshmin, 47, says.
'It wasn't easy and I tackled racism and sexism in sport reporting to forge my career.
'There was no playbook for me to follow to get to the job I have now.'
Mum Reshmin, lives in London with her daughter, 12 and 12 year old son while dividing her time appearing as a presenter and sports commentator on TNT Sports and hosting Game Day Exclusive on talkSPORT on Saturday mornings.
In the last five years she's made headlines fronting the FIFA World Cup in Qatar for BeIN Sports, covering the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games for Eurosport and Discovery Plus, and helping helm the UEFA Euro 2000 for ITV Sport.
Reshmin says: 'If you had told me 30 years ago this would be my job, I'd have said you were crazy.
'I would have laughed it off as an impossible dream.
'Now I know through the ups and downs the impossible is possible.
'It's been hard to get here, and I have fought some tough battles to be accepted.'
Reshmin Chowdhury talks about ethnic prejudice in sports broadcasting
Reshmin grew up in East London, raised in what she describes as an open minded and progressive Bengali Muslim family.
She says: 'Aunts and uncles surrounded me and I grew up supported by a huge second-generation community where education, culture, religion, and music constantly celebrated.'
As a teenager Reshmin admitted she was sports crazy.
'My brother and I would obsessively watch everything from Wimbledon to football together,' she says.
'I was a 'sports nerd girl' - that was unusual but when it came to facts and figures about all different types of sport I lived and breathed them.'
After leaving school Reshmin graduated from the University of Bath with a degree in politics and economics.
In 2003 she completed a post graduate diploma in newspaper journalism at Harlow College.
'I had a degree in politics and started doing low level assistant jobs in newsrooms and that made sense to people,' she says.
'I had a politics degree, and I was training as a news reporter.
'The thought of a British Bengali woman being fascinated by sport and becoming an expert sports commentator was something most people didn't even consider possible.
'I soon realised I didn't want to be pigeonholed.
'I wanted to be a TV presenter and reporter, and I wanted to do sport.
'When you factor in, I was not just a woman but a British Asian woman and the odds were pretty much stacked against me.'
Reshmin admits she thrives on challenges saying the key to her success was a passion for sport and a desire to prove people wrong.
'I went through a number of years knowing what I wanted to do but not knowing how to get into TV presenting and reporting,' she says.
'There was no guidance or even training programmes then which could be followed when I was starting out.
'Diversity hiring wasn't common then and I didn't use that track to jumpstart my career.'
Reshmin admits she found herself constantly having to prove to potential bosses and colleagues she knew all the ins and outs of football.
'Everyday was a test, a test to be recognised and taken seriously,' she says.
'I'd be asked questions in the office or even on air about unusual football facts or players and I knew if I got something wrong, I'd be judged negatively
'There were times it was unpleasant. It wasn't right.
'There were times people thought I was there to take notes or make the coffee.
TV sports presenters make a mint.
The biggest and best are signed up on yearly deals with the likes of the BBC, ITV and Sky for your viewing pleasure.
Laura Woods is dominating the media landscape at the moment, leading TNT Sports' coverage and ITV's.
Alex Scott and Jermaine Jenas are two of the fresher faces for the BBC's sporting output.
Then, it's the old guard of Gary Lineker and Mark Chapman who also command hefty fees for their Match of the Day programmes.
SunSport has taken a look at how those big names rank and compiled a list of the top 10 highest earning stars that grace our TV screens.
With number one worth a whopping £29.4million more than number 10!
'Would they have asked a man to jump through hoops in sports journalism?
No, of course not. But like it or not women have to even today.
'I'm not full of myself but looking back I am proud I could pioneer a small path for other British Asian women in the competitive field of sports reporting world.'
Reshmin admits that she finds the rise of nepo babies, children who are successful because of their parents, 'annoying'.
'When I started my TV career, I didn't have an 'in',' she says.
'We've all seen an increase in nepo babies - the children of the rich and famous all over the world getting jobs on the back of their parents.
'It puts so much pressure on those kids and it isn't fair on other people. Some children from non-famous families give up because they feel the system is rigged.'
Reshmin admits she also has her hands full juggling motherhood and a high-profile career and struggles with mum-guilt.
'My children were born 20 months apart and I took time off to care for them,' she says.
'I came back and had to work extra hard to catch up.
'It's not a complaint, it's just what happens in the work of competitive sports journalism.
'I always have mum guilt. I worry I am not doing enough and have to be regimented with my time.'
Reshmin has partnered with Talking Futures to launch the Career Transfer Hub – giving parents access to information on their child's education options just like football agents have transfer insiders, negotiation teams and career scouts.
'I know the pressure kids feel in the lead up to GCSE's, A- Levels, and mock exams,' she says.
'Many are making huge decisions before summer holidays about leaving school, starting college, or getting jobs.
'I know just how vulnerable many teens feel and how confused they are about these live altering decisions.
'That's why the Career Transfer Hub is such a great solution to getting parents – like me – more engaged.
'It's time we used the same passion and time we give to football to help our teens take their next step.
"Whether it's T-levels, apprenticeships, HTQs or other options, these are the real career-defining transfers – and our teens deserve our full support.'
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