.Sep 17, 2024, 09:18 PM ETWASHINGTON-- Billie Jean Master will certainly become the initial individual girls's athlete to be rewarded the Congressional Gold Medal.Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania and Mikie Sherrill of New Shirt revealed Tuesday that their bipartisan laws had passed your home of Reps and would certainly be actually delivered to President Joe Biden for his signature.The bill to honor Master, the ping pong Lobby of Famer and also protestor, had currently passed unanimously in the Senate.Sherrill, a Democrat, claimed in a statement that Master's "life time of proposal and also effort altered the yard for girls and also women on the courthouse, in the class, and the workplace." The expense was offered in September 2023 on the 50th wedding anniversary of King's triumph over Bobby Riggs in the "Battle of the Sexual activities," still the most-watched ping pong suit of perpetuity. The medal, rewarded by Congress for distinguished accomplishments as well as contributions to community, has actually formerly been given to athletes, including pitcher Jackie Robinson and also Roberto Clemente and also golf players Jack Nicklaus, Byron Nelson and also Arnold Palmer.King had currently been actually awarded the Presidential Medal of Liberty in 2009. Fitzpatrick, a Republican, mentions she has "damaged barricades, led unexplored courses, and inspired plenty of individuals to stand up happily with courage and view in the defend what is right.".