Billie Jean King has played a leading role in the fight for women’s rights and social change. King is more than a sports legend. Off the court, she was a vanguard for women’s equality.
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Billie Jean King’s contribution to bringing women’s tennis to the same level as men’s tennis is immeasurable. She was recently seen in the 2022 Windy City Open in Chicago. During the interview, she was asked about counting squash in the Olympics, Billie Jean King said ‘It deserves to be in the Olympics.’
Billie Jean King about including Squash in Olympics
In the interview, while talking about the sport of squash, King said, “I’d like to see Squash in the Olympics. It deserves to be in the Olympics, it’s played in many, many countries. It’s got men, it’s got women, it should be in the Olympics.”
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The Sport has grown over the years and defined gender equality in the squash court, with women being equally astonishing in the sport. For a sport like squash, which is played by nearly 20 million people in more than 185 countries, aiming to qualify for the Olympics, has so far been a push experience.
King talks about gender equality in Squash
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When asked about equality, she said, “I think having equal prize money, here is just a step forward for the sport. I’m fascinated by it… I love the fact the women and men have the same association together and work together, which is going to help grow the sport.”
King talked about the social change that is happening in sports. During the interview, she also praised the level of the women’s squash game and talked about how the women’s game has strengthened in the game.
The American icon has not only been instrumental in reforming the sport of tennis in her tireless fight for gender equality. On the other hand, she has also paved the way through her work for women’s growth in sports. King graced the sport in the 70s and 80s with success in all its forms.
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During her career, King has won 12 titles in singles, 16 titles in women’s doubles, and 11 major titles in mixed doubles for a total of 39 titles Margaret. Second only to her coat and Martina Navratilova. In her open years, the king has won eight titles (7th all-time) and 129 individual titles (62 as an amateur and 67 on the WTA Tour).
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