Behind every young athlete's medal is a family that sacrificed, believed, and showed up, even when the system didn't. Raising a child in sport isn't just about training schedules and competition entries; it's about navigating race, bias, and financial strain, and the quiet courage it takes to keep going when fairness feels out of reach. In this episode of Equity in Action, Zoiey Smale, Disability, Access, and Inclusion Consultant and Sports Presenter, is joined by three generations of a remarkable wrestling family whose legacy spans nearly 50 years. Rowin Manjeet Singh Leil II is a British freestyle wrestling champion, youth coach, and sports science student who began wrestling at 12. His father, Michael Singh, is a former wrestler and long-standing coach representing the second generation of this sporting tradition. And Manjit Singh is the man who started it all; one of the early British Asian wrestlers, who arrived in the UK in 1962 and won the British Championships in 1976. Together, they explore what it truly means to raise a child through sport while holding onto racial identity, cultural pride, and a deep belief in equity and equality for all. Zoiey, Rowin, Michael, and Manjit offer honest, hard-won insights for parents, coaches, and governing bodies committed to advancing diversity, inclusion, and EDI across sport and physical activity: Honour the family behind the athlete: Clubs and governing bodies should recognise that diverse families often self-fund travel, equipment, and training without access to the same networks or funding streams. True equality in sport and physical activity means building pathways that acknowledge this reality and actively working to level the playing field, not just on paper, but in practice. Move the goalposts back: When criteria for selection or progression keep shifting, it erodes trust and discourages talent from underrepresented communities. Governing bodies must be transparent, consistent, and accountable. Setting clear expectations and honouring them, especially for athletes who have already met the bar. Build clubs where no colour, no creed is the culture: Real inclusion isn't a policy document; it's the four-year-old on the mat, the autistic teenager who just asked their first question, and the community session held in a Gurdwara. Genuine diversity and inclusion means designing your club environment so that every young person, regardless of background, race, or ability, feels they have a place in sport. Champion long-term development over short-term glory: Resist the pressure to chase medals at the expense of the person. The most powerful thing you can give a young athlete isn't a trophy; it's the discipline, resilience, and self-belief to keep going. Winning will come; your job is to make sure they're still standing when it does. -- Sporting Equals is a leading UK charity promoting race equality and equity in sport and physical activity. Their mission is to create a sporting landscape where ethnically diverse communities feel included, represented, and able to thrive — whether on the pitch, in leadership, or in decision-making spaces.
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May 19 202650 mins
36 mins