A journalism student has called for “badass women” to come forward after launching a new group which aims to redress the gender gap in sports photography.

Sophia Rooke, who studies at the University of Buckingham, has founded Women of Sports Photography in a bid to tackle what she believes is the underrepresentation of women in the field.

The new group is backed by the Chartered Institute of Journalists and will formally launch at a free seminar hosted at the university in July.

An announcement about the group’s launch has proclaimed that it wants “badass women to pick up their cameras and shoot some action”.

Sophia, pictured, said: “It is no shock to realise the gender gap present in sports photography with women being severely underrepresented.

“Although actual statistics are extremely difficult to come by and research basically non-existent online, women are out there, courtside and on the goal line, snapping incredible images lighting up newspapers, fuelling social media and inspiring countless young hopefuls.

“The question we ought to be asking is what platforms are in place to encourage and ignite debate amongst this group of women, who at the end of the day are just sports photographers fighting for their place in a male-dominated world.

“Women of Sports Photography is not intended to alienate or isolate any gender but is instead providing a community in which these incredible women can discuss their craft amongst likeminded individuals and thrive as a result.”

Sophia herself works as a freelance basketball photographer alongside her studies.

She added Sophie: “The goal is not to promote a pro-feminist or anti-male group, men are actively encouraged to support their co-workers through this platform. The end goal is to create a major online buzz globally with members organising seminars and workshops in order to connect with others and develop their confidence in this competitive industry.”

“I want to provide women with a platform from which they can encourage and be encouraged by those in their field and out of it so they can achieve exactly what it is they are chasing.”

“This isn’t a gender war, this is a call for everyone, no matter what their gender, to stand up and close the gap in sports photography, to have the confidence to tell their co-photographers to move out of the bloody shot and not feel intimidated because they may be the only woman on the sideline.

“I want every single woman who picks up a camera to feel on top of the world with herself and confident that the only obstacle in her career is the ability to get the shot.”