Many top sports events, disrupted by Covid, are finally back. And so is the BBC’s Indian sportswoman of the year award. Public voting is now underway to pick a winner from the five nominees: shooter Manu Baker, sprinter Dutee Chand, chess player Koneru Humpy, wrestler Vinesh Phogat and hockey player Rani. (You can read more about them on the BBC India website.) Each one of them has inspiring stories of grit and perseverance.

Sports changed their lives, but is the going now easier for the next generation of potential stars, or are issues like sexism and the gender pay gap holding them back? Can young women athletes follow genuine career pathways in professional sports?

In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we talk to three aspiring stars to discuss how sports can be a gamechanger for women.