In a powerful address at the 31st annual TT Olympic Committee (TTOC) awards ceremony in Port of Spain, West Indies women’s cricket star Karishma Ramharack delivered a compelling plea for the professionalization of women’s sports across Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean region.
The accomplished off-spinner, recipient of both the 2024 First Citizens Sports Foundation Sportswoman of the Year and 2025 TTCB Female International Cricketer of the Year awards, drew from her six years of international experience to challenge prevailing attitudes toward female athletics. Speaking before an audience at Queen’s Hall on December 29, 2025, Ramharack emphasized that women’s sports should not be treated as recreational pastimes but as serious professional pursuits.
‘Women’s sports is not a side story. It’s not a phase. It’s not something young girls should try before choosing something practical,’ declared Ramharack, whose cricketing credentials include 90 international appearances across ODI and T20 formats. ‘What I see every day are women who are disciplined, strategic, resilient, and capable of excellence under pressure.’
The athlete provided concrete examples of professional commitment, describing the rigorous discipline required at elite levels: ‘The early mornings and getting my workouts in regardless of where I am in the world… Cutting sugar completely out of my diet and sticking to it, even when cravings hit… Choosing discipline over comfort, purpose over pleasure, every single day.’
Addressing parents and guardians directly, Ramharack urged a paradigm shift in how young female athletes are encouraged: ‘When your daughter shows interest in cricket, athletics, football, cycling, or any sport, don’t ask her how long it will last. Ask her how far she wants to go.’ She positioned sports as a viable career path that builds character and creates opportunities, emphasizing that ‘the next Olympian, medallist or the next leader in sport might be sitting in a classroom right now waiting for someone to take her seriously.’
Ramharack’s advocacy comes amid a successful competitive period for Trinidad and Tobago athletes. Following the men’s and women’s teams claiming silver at the recent Bolivarian Games in Peru, Ramharack and her colleagues are now focused on qualifying for the LA 2028 Olympic Games through increased competition under the TTOC banner.