Recently in a survey by Thomson and Reuters, India was labelled as the most dangerous country for women. India has ranked ahead of Afghanistan too. While the findings of the research were dismissed by many, the conclusions of the report have created a dent in the minds of people from abroad. Not only tourists but also sportsmen. Number 1 Swiss Squash player Ambre Allinckx stayed away from the 2018 World Junior Championship in Chennai citing reasons of safety.

According to her coach, Pascal Bhurin it was her parents who raised concern about women’s safety. Ambre Allinckx couldn’t make it because her parents did not want her to make the trip. They have been reading reports on the internet about how unsafe India is for women and didn’t want to take the risk of sending their daughter over. However, we have not experienced any disturbance so far,” he said to a newspaper.

World Squash Federation’s chief executive Andrew Shelley said the views of every parent must be respected. However, he has full confidence in the security arrangements made by the Tamil Nadu Squash Rackets Association. “However, there are over 250 players and officials from 28 countries, including a full squad from Switzerland. Like the WSF, they all have complete confidence with the security arrangements made by Tamil Nadu Squash Rackets Association at the Championship Hotel and playing venues to ensure the safety of the players at this event,” added Andrew.  It was in 2009 that England pulled out of the World Badminton Championship owing to the terror threat.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 20, 2018 10:35 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).