BY ALI AROUZI AND HENRY AUSTINTEHRAN -- Iran’s female soccer pros face random gender tests after seven people were disqualified from the league because they were deemed not to be women.The "snap checks" have been introduced by the Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran, according to … [Read more...]
Meet Muslim Figure Skater Zahra Lari
Zahra Lari is an 18-year-old figure skater from the United Arab Emirates who’s known to the folks back home as the “Ice Princess.” This year, she’s already making headlines at the Winter Olympics in … [Read more...]
Saudi soccer debates broadens over women’s rights and nationalism
By James M. Dorsey Female US Congressional staffers in Riyadh's King Fahd Stadium, source: James M. DorseyA Saudi debate about the societal role of soccer expanded this week with controversy over a group of female American Congressional staffers being allowed to watch a match in a Riyadh … [Read more...]
Feminizing fighting sports?
By Jasmijn RanaFouzia (the trainer) told us that we were not training hard enough, because she never saw anyone vomit in Ladies-Only kickboxing training. Naima, with whom I was training, responded: “But we’re girls, right? We don’t have to do exactly the same as they do in the men’s training?” … [Read more...]
In the Midst of a Warzone there’s an Afghani Skateboarding School for Girls
Today I learned there’s a skateboarding school in Afghanistan where 40% of its students are female.In a part of the world where little girls are getting shot at for promoting women’s education, that’s a pretty impressive statistic. In a part of the world where little girls aren’t even allowed to … [Read more...]
Pakistan women break new ground at kabaddi world cup
LAHORE: Sixteen young Pakistani women will make history this weekend as they compete in the kabaddi world cup -- the first time the Muslim country has ever fielded an international women's team in the sport.The traditional tag-wrestling sport involves players trying to tag an opponent before making … [Read more...]
Iranian swimmer Elham Asghari: ‘My 20km record has been held hostage’
By Saeed Kamali DehghanOn a Tuesday morning in June, Elham Asghari stepped into the tidal waters of the chilly Caspian sea in northern Iran to swim 20km in full Islamic dress. But her record-breaking nine-hour feat has not been recognised by national authorities because she is a … [Read more...]
Azerbaijan to host Islamic Solidarity Games in 2017
By Nigar OrujovaThe eighth elective general assembly of the Islamic Solidarity Sports Federation (ISSF) in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia has decided to hold the fourth Islamic Solidarity Games in Azerbaijan in 2017, the Azerbaijani National Olympic Committee said on July 24.The ISSF member states voted for … [Read more...]
Spain’s IOC member Marisol Casado says Turkey has removed women wearing headscarves in bid
The head of the Turkish bid, Ugur Erdener, speaks during the presentation of the Candidate Cities for the 2020 Olympic Games during the Association of National Olympic Committees meeting in Switzerland. Picture: AP Source: APA SPANISH IOC member questioned why Turkish bid leaders have … [Read more...]
The Muslim women who are excelling at top-level sport
Farah Jassatguardian.co.uk, Salma Bi (right) … 'The main challenge is family support'. Photograph: Nick WilkinsonkOn a recent weekday evening at London's Wembley Stadium, half a dozen Muslim women, some wearing headscarves, were taking it in turns to flip over some male opponents with … [Read more...]