BAHRAIN: Bahraini sprinter Ruqaya al-Ghasara says wearing the veil hasn't stopped her from competing

Record ID: 644873

  • Title: BAHRAIN: Bahraini sprinter Ruqaya al-Ghasara says wearing the veil hasn't stopped her from competing
  • Date: 13th March 2007
  • Summary: (MER-1) MANAMA, BAHRAIN (RECENT) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF BAHRAIN ATHLETICS ASSOCIATION/POSTER OF BAHRAINI
  • Embargoed: 28th March 2007 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Bahrain
  • Country: Bahrain
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA8ERTY84ROVXBNWA5CDAG6E9EQ
  • Story Text: The dream of becoming a world famous athletic champion is the thrust behind eight hour training days for Bahraini sprinter Ruqaya al-Ghasara.
    Al-Gasara has already won the 200 metres sprint at the Asian Games in 2006 and is now aiming to qualify on an international level.
    "At the moment she is systematically improving her record. So far, she has qualified on an Arab (regional) level, she has qualified on an Asian level and now she is aiming to qualify on an international level, God willing," said her coach Nooruddin Tajini.
    There are many female competitors in this field but the one thing that distinguishes al-Ghasara from other sprinters is the fact that she wears the muslim veil on and off the track.
    This may turn a few heads, but for al-Ghasara it is nothing that hinders her progress in her field.
    "The veil does not prevent me from competing and it is not a form of obstacle to me competing or running,'' she said.
    The 24-year-old says that wearing the hijab along with leggings and long sleeves and still being able to outpaced her more scantily-clad rivals has been an encouragement for her.
    ''With regard to me wearing my Islamic dress and competing against others who are not veiled or who are non-Muslim, that makes me very proud and encourages me to win and this goes to show that the veil does not prevent any woman from playing any sport,'' said al-Ghasara.
    Bahrain's sports authorities have embarked on an ambitious programme to establish the Gulf state as an international power in athletics by recruiting mainly African runners to compete under their flag. Al-Ghasara is one of the few home grown athletes currently making headlines in Bahrain.
    Last December she made history when she won her 100-metre heat to become the first woman to win a race at the West Asian Games (WAG), which had previously been men only.
    This year she trained in South Africa, Bahrain and Qatar and might have had an even better haul of medals here had she not false-started in the 100-metre final and then got away poorly before a strong finish rescued third place.
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