The Star India batter Jemimah Rodrigues’ honorary three-year membership at Mumbai’s prestigious Khar Gymkhana recently got revoked. The decision comes after her father, Ivan Rodrigues, reportedly organized religious activities on the club’s premises. According to reports, members of the club raised objections, prompting Gymkhana officials to take action.
Ivan Rodrigues, a cricket coach, is said to have used the club’s presidential hall to hold 35 events over the course of a year and a half, allegedly for religious purposes associated with Brother Manuel Ministries. The events, according to the club, violated Khar Gymkhana’s Rule 4A, which strictly prohibits religious activities on its premises.
Following concerns from club members, the issue was addressed during an annual general body meeting on October 20, 2024. Khar Gymkhana president Vivek Devnani confirmed that Jemimah’s membership had been cancelled as a result of a resolution passed at the meeting.
Managing committee member Shiv Malhotra further elaborated, stating that the events organized by Ivan Rodrigues involved activities such as dancing and the use of expensive music equipment and big screens. He noted the concerns about religious conversions happening “under our nose,” adding that such actions were against the club’s by-laws.
Jemimah was the first female Indian cricketer to receive honorary membership at Khar Gymkhana in 2023, making this incident particularly notable in the sporting community.
