2025 Ghana National Chess Women’s Champion, Maud Benson, is urging women in sports, particularly chess, to remain resilient and avoid complacency amid concerns over the low representation of women in sports.
Speaking on Campus Exclusive, Maud Benson noted that although efforts are being made to encourage more female participation in the sport, women must also stay determined and prove themselves through hard work and consistency.
“Be resilient and be a strong woman. But I can see now the women or the females in general are getting the voice to speak out. They’re getting the equality they need and it’s really, really a good thing,” she stated.
She explained that gender equality should not be viewed as an attempt to elevate women above men, but rather as a means of creating fair opportunities.
“Equality helps you sit apart. It’s not necessarily elevating the female above the male. That’s what they all think,” she added.
Maud Benson further stressed that while support systems may help women gain opportunities, success ultimately depends on individual effort and performance.
“Once they’ve given you that push, it is up to you to prove that you deserve to be there. No one will give you a national team slot because you’re a female. They give it to you because you proved that you need to be there,” she emphasized.
She also encouraged young women interested in chess and other sporting disciplines not to be discouraged by stereotypes or underrepresentation, but to remain confident and committed to achieving their goals.
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Story by Erica Odeenyin Odoom | univers.ug.edu.gh
