Reshmin Chowdhury claimed her information of soccer was questioned on the BBC.
Reshmin Chowdhury beforehand detailed a few of the behaviour she needed to endure on the BBC (Picture: Getty) This text incorporates affiliate hyperlinks, we’ll obtain a fee on any gross sales we generate from it. Be taught extra
Reshmin Chowdhury has beforehand spoken out about her frustration with BBC colleagues who “examined” her. A member of the BBC Sport group since 2010, she was believed to be amongst the candidates to interchange Gary Lineker as host of the company’s flagship soccer highlights programme Match of the Day.
The previous Tottenham and England striker departed the present, and the BBC, final yr. Regardless of Chowdhury’s in depth credentials – together with work for beIN SPORTS, talkSPORT and Discovery Plus, in addition to earlier appearances internet hosting Match of the Day 2 – she was in the end handed over for Mark Chapman, Kelly Cates and Gabby Logan.
While the 48-year-old did not safe the distinguished presenting place, she might be fronting the 2026 Winter Olympics this month on TNT Sports activities. Chowdhury boasts appreciable expertise in sports activities journalism, but claimed her experience was inexplicably challenged on the BBC.
Alleging she confronted ethnic and gender discrimination, she instructed The Solar in August 2024: “Being British Asian… I believe I needed to persuade lots of people that I knew about soccer. That was essentially the most irritating half… I imply, is it a shock? I began off working in information, nobody questioned me then. I’ve a politics diploma, so it was fairly regular. However if you come into sport, individuals take a look at you and they’re pondering: ‘Does she know what she is basically speaking about?'”
The Spanish giants proved to be Chowdhury’s breakthrough alternative when she secured the presenter position for Actual Madrid TV in 2008. She grew to become the primary journalist to interview Cristiano Ronaldo following his then-world report transfer from Manchester United in 2009, earlier than touchdown one other international unique with Karim Benzema that very same summer season when he arrived from Lyon.
Having introduced prestigious occasions reminiscent of The Finest FIFA Soccer awards, she’s beforehand mentioned the challenges of getting into the media trade, notably for people of her ethnicity. “It should not be as arduous because it was for me for somebody stepping into sports activities broadcasting now,” she stated. “I consider it might have been 100 per cent simpler if I had an ‘in’. The boundaries to entry had been in every single place.
Watch Winter Olympics 2026 stay on discovery+ £3.99 View Deal
The Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Video games is operating from February 6-22 and followers can take pleasure in greater than 850 hours of motion stay on discovery+ through Prime Video.
All through the video games, the £3.99 discovery+ Leisure subscription will present entry to TNT Sports activities 2, the house of 24/7 Olympic protection.
“Being British Asian… I believe I needed to persuade lots of people that I knew about soccer. I did not have a well-known sporting particular person in my household, or know anybody in TV. We want extra illustration [in the industry]… It is one thing I’m captivated with. Within the final 5 – 6 years, the doorways have opened for ladies in sport. However that hasn’t at all times been the case.”
Soccer switch information and rumours plus chosen affords and competitions Subscribe Invalid e-mail
We use your sign-up to supply content material in methods you’ve got consented to and to enhance our understanding of you. This may occasionally embody adverts from us and third events based mostly on our understanding. You possibly can unsubscribe at any time. Learn our Privateness Coverage
She is of British and Bangladeshi heritage, and was born and introduced up in London in what she described as an “open-minded, progressive Bengali Muslim” household. Her presence on tv has seen her develop into a job mannequin for younger British Asian women aspiring to enter the media panorama.
“I get Bengali dad and mom who come as much as me and inform me their daughters wish to develop into sports activities journalists as a result of they noticed me,” she admitted. “I can not let you know how a lot meaning to me. Each time I hear that my coronary heart skips a beat.”
Leave a Reply