Japanese female athletes cry sexism after being made to fly in lower class than men for Olympics

London, July 18(ANI): Japanese women football team players are livid after being forced to fly in economy class to participate in the Olympic Games, while the male football team players flew in business class.

The women's team, known as Nadeshiko Japan, lifted the World Cup in Germany last year, and is widely tipped as one of the favourites for the gold medals in London.

The players remain largely semi-professional, in contrast to the players in the men's squad.

The women players believe they should have been treated as equals at least on the Japan Airlines flight from Tokyo to Paris earlier this week.

"I guess it should have been the other way around. Even just in terms of age, we are senior," The Telegraph quoted Homare Sawa, the 33-year old captain of the women world cup team, as saying.

Nadeshiko Japan play the first of their matches against Canada in July 25 and are expected to progress from a group that also includes Sweden and South Africa. They play a friendly match against France in Paris on Thursday evening before flying to London.The women's team said they believe there is only one way that they are likely to achieve parity with the men.

"When we won the World Cup, our seats were changed to business class for our return flight. I hope we can produce a good result again and be treated the same way," Sawa, the 2011 FIFA Women's World Player of the Year added. (ANI)