Kim Clijsters is the new poster girl. And not of the Anna Kournikova pin-up kind. Clijsters?s victory at the US Open 2009 was indeed incredible. To come out of a two-year retirement, which included giving birth to a child, go into a tournament unseeded and end up lifting the trophy, is unbelievable. The fact that this has happened only twice in Grand Slam history indicates how tough it is. This makes her only the second mother to win a Grand Slam. The first was Evonne Cawley in 1980.
It was a fairy tale tournament for Clijsters. But behind it was a lot of hard work, steely determination and a lot of self-belief. She had to be at peak physical fitness level and have tough mental strength to go through a gruelling day tournament and win it.
The Clijsters comeback story should be an inspiration for many women. It should give a lot of hope to women who take a career break and want to return to work and also to those who do not take a break out of fear of losing out to a hungry younger lot of competitors.
This is a dilemma for many women who have to make a choice between pursuing their ambitions and taking a break to start a family. There are many women who manage to do both and reach the top of the corporate ladder while also have a family without having to make either this or that choice. But this is unfortunately still the exception and not the rule.
A lot of potential talent is lost because of the tough choices women have to make. Lack of support systems, disapproving extended family and spouses who are not supportive are also a reality. Many organisations in India are not sensitive to these special needs of the women and frankly don?t care.
Some corporate groups are however trying to change, which is welcome. The Tatas have launched a programme to encourage women to get back to work. IT companies are also more amenable to having such encouraging polices. More need to follow.
At any rate, Clijsters?s mother of all comebacks should encourage more women to get back into the race.
geeta.nair@expressindia.com