Dejana Radanovic has hit back after she was accused of being racist when she ripped into India after competing in three ITF tournaments in the country. The world No. 245 said she would never return as she slammed the “food, traffic and hygiene” following her recent trip.
Radanovic caused a stir when she took to Instagram to slam the country of India after competing in three W50 events across Bengaluru, Pune and Indore. The 27-year-old shared a series of stories from the airport after completing her three-week stint, writing: “Adios India. See you never ever ever ever ever EVER again.”
After landing in Munich, she added: “Hello civilisation. Only those who have experienced something like India for 3 weeks can understand the feeling.” The world No. 245 shared a third post, showing an article of ‘things to never eat and drink in India’. “I LOVE fruit and 3 weeks without it killed me,” she wrote.
Radanovic explained that everything except the bananas were peeled in the hotels and said she “wasn’t comfortable enough to buy unpeeled on the streets.” The Serb continued: “You can obviously take fruit but the first time there a few years ago I did, and ended up with food poisoning and temperature for 39+ for 4 days so this time it was a no no.”
The 27-year-old caused controversy with her remarks and has since responded, claiming that she wasn’t being racist. “Omg, I can’t believe what things we need to talk about really,” she wrote in a new Instagram story. “1. I didn’t like India – the country. I didn’t like the food, traffic, hygiene (worms in the food, yellow pillows and dirty bed linen in the hotel, not knowing how to use roundabout etc).
“2. If you come to my country, Serbia, and you don’t like all those same things, that means you are a racist??? What the hell that has to do with racism?! I have friends all nationalities and colours so don’t go there cause it’s an absolute NONSENSE!”
Radanovic also clarified that she liked the people in India as she continued: “95% of the people who go to India from anywhere else in the world cannot adopt to that kind of life! Of course it’s different when you are born there and used to it! How does not liking mentioned things mean I didn’t like the people? Quite opposite, I liked the people there a lot.
“On one of the tournaments we had a guy who drove us on tuk-tuk to courts every day, had few dinners with him, buying chocolates and ice creams to him, gladly, and had a nice time. Some people you like, some people you don’t. LIKE ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD! AND IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH COLOUR OR NATION!”
Following her original posts, Radanovic sparked backlash on social media. @alaskawhines tweeted: “Coming from a white person this reeks of racism. Nobody forced you to drink tap water. Drink mineral one or from an aquaguard, pretty cheap. Wash the fruits/vegetables. Nobody is asking you to lick them raw from roadside. You lack the brains, the country is fine.”
@thetwinkwolff added: “Idk what happened with her but “hello civilisation” is so below the belt. India can be difficult for a lot of foreigners. So do ur research b4 u try to spend 3 weeks here. This is a vv strong reaction ive ever seen from a player considering we host tons of intl players every year.”
And Radanovic received criticism following her update as @Delpunban wrote: “What an id|ot. Look at her remark. Yellow pillow, worms in food. She’s seriously going over board with her comments. Looks like she’s just a frustrated pampered kid and not an athlete.”
