Indian athlete decries online harassment after silver medal win overshadowed by appearance
Keyaa Kunal Banerji, a 21-year-old Indian powerlifter, won silver at the 2026 IPF World Championships in South Africa, lifting 140kg in deadlift. However, she faced cyberbullying and objectification online, with AI-generated images misusing her likeness. She called it "sexism at its finest" and noted male athletes don't face such treatment.
Competing in the 47kg junior class at the Sun City event, Banerji lifted 140kg, a figure exceeding triple her own body weight, securing second place. The championship took place in late August or early September 2026.
Following the viral spread of her performance clip, she encountered a wave of fabricated AI imagery and abusive messages from anonymous profiles. Banerji explicitly noted that male champions are typically spared such intrusive scrutiny.
This incident could highlight the persistent double standard in sports media coverage, where female athletes' physical appearance often overshadows their athletic prowess. It may discourage young women from pursuing strength sports, fearing similar online abuse. The misuse of AI to create non-consensual images could also prompt broader discussions about digital safety and the need for stronger platform accountability regarding deepfakes, affecting all public figures, particularly women.