- Title: Palestinian girls compete in a rare Gaza boxing contest
- Date: 20th November 2020
- Summary: GAZA CITY, GAZA (NOVEMBER 20, 2020) (REUTERS) YOUNG GIRL BOXING, THROWING PUNCHES AT CAMERA GIRL IN BOXING RING JUDGE RINGING BELL BODYCAM VIEW OF BOXING MATCH BETWEEN TWO GIRLS YOUNG GIRLS CHANTING GIRLS COMPETING IN BOXING RING CHILDREN WATCHING FROM OUTSIDE HALL MEDALS ON TABLE (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF THE PALESTINIAN BOXING FEDERATION, ALI ABDEL-SHAFI, SAYING: "From this tournament we will choose players for the national team to participate soon in a championship in Kuwait which is expected to take place in upcoming February in God's will." VIEW OF GIRLS COMPETING THROUGH PHONE CAMERA JUDGE RINGING BELL GIRLS COMPETING JUDGE RINGING BELL TO END ROUND VARIOUS OF GIRLS TRAINING (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) PALESTINIAN YOUNG GIRL COMPETING IN TOURNAMENT, MALAK MESLEH, SAYING: "This is the first boxing tournament I participate in, this is my first experience. I feel stressed especially with many people around, and I am excited at the same time." TEAMS PREPARING FOR COMPETITION COACH PREPARING GIRL AHEAD OF COMPETITION TEAMS IN BOXING RING GIRL PREPARING FOR COMPETITION TEAMS IN HALL (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) TRAINER, OSAMA AYOB, SAYING: "Today we have 45 girls, their age range from seven years old to 17 years old." GIRLS ENTERING BOXING RING (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) PALESTINIAN YOUNG GIRL COMPETING IN TOURNAMENT, HALA AYOUB, SAYING: "It (boxing) taught me how to defend myself, how to release bad energy, and it taught me how to defend myself if I get attacked." JUDGE TALKING TO AUDIENCE GIRL BOXERS CHANTING
- Embargoed: 4th December 2020 18:55
- Keywords: Gaza Palestinians boxing championship
- Location: GAZA CITY, GAZA
- City: GAZA CITY, GAZA
- Country: Palestinian Territories
- Topics: Boxing,Middle East,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA001D5DE4PL
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Trading jabs and punches, young Palestinian girls competed in a female boxing tournament on Friday (November 20) in the Gaza Strip, where the sport is mostly popular with men.
The contest featured female boxers as young as seven years old, and was attended by dozens of spectators.
"This is the first championship I've taken part in...There is tension because of the audience and the noise but I am excited as well," said Malak Mesleh, 15.
The number of female boxers in Gaza has doubled in the past six months since an initial 18-member all-girl team was formed. It now has 45 athletes, according to captain Osama Ayob.
Ali Abdel-Shafi, deputy chairman of the Palestinian Boxing Federation, said some of the girls from Friday's competition would be selected to join the Palestinians' boxing team and take part in a competition in Kuwait in February.
One boxer, Hala Ayoub, said she hoped the contest would show people that boxing is not only a man's sport.
"It (boxing) taught me how to defend myself, and how to release bad energy," said Ayoub, 15.
(Production: Mohammad Shana, Suheir Sheikh) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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