Indian cricketer Jemimah Rodrigues‘ father, Ivan, has rejected claims that he used his daughter’s Khar Gymkhana membership in Mumbai to hold conversion meetings there. In response to the controversy, Ivan clarified that he only conducted prayer meetings, which were open to everyone.
Jemimah attracted negative attention after reports emerged that Khar Gymkhana revoked her membership during its Annual General Meeting (AGM). Some reports suggested this decision followed allegations that Ivan used the club for religious gatherings.
On Friday, October 25, Ivan addressed the situation with an official statement, dismissing all accusations against him. He stated (as quoted by news agency PTI):
“We had availed of the facilities at the Khar Gymkhana for the purpose of prayer meetings on multiple occasions, over a period of a year since April 2023. However, this was done in complete accordance with the procedures that Khar Gymkhana have in place, and in full knowledge of the office-bearers.”
“The prayer meetings were open to all and were in no way ‘conversion meetings’ as is wrongly labeled in articles in the media,” Ivan added in his statement.
The Indian cricketer’s father also mentioned that when he was asked to cease the prayer meetings, he complied and took action right away.
“We are honest, law-abiding people who are grateful that we can practise our faith without it being a cause of inconvenience to anyone else. To then be the subject of false claims and misinformation is disheartening. We have and continue to wish only the best for everyone,” Ivan’s statement concluded.
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He also clarified that once the family was made aware of the differing rates for members and guests, they promptly settled the outstanding payments.
Who is Jemimah Rodrigues?
Jemimah (24) is a key player in Indian women’s cricket today. A right-handed batter, she has represented India in three Tests, 31 ODIs, and 104 T20Is, scoring 235, 745, and 2,142 runs, respectively. She was part of India’s squad for the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup, where she recorded scores of 13, 23, 16, and 16 in four matches.
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