Saudi Gazette Report

16-year old, Amaiya Zafar, no longer will have to choose between her religion and her passion for boxing.

Amaiya Zafar, from Oakdale, Minnesota, who is Muslim, recently won a battle that will allow her to wear a hijab and fully cover her arms and legs while competing in the boxing ring.

A new USA Boxing exemption means Zafar can adhere to her religious beliefs rather than to the previous mandate that she wear a sleeveless jersey and shorts that must not go below the knees.

“This is a big step,” her coach, Nathaniel Haile, said to the Start Tribune. “She’s put a lot of labor into this. She earned the right to showcase her skills, and I’m happy for her. But it’s just the first step in letting her achieve her dreams.”

According to the Start Tribune, Zafar has her sights set on the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. To get there, she still has to persuade the international boxing organization — the AIBA — to allow her to box in her modest attire and hijab.

For now, her right to wear the scarf is only with USA Boxing. Zafar will have the opportunity to fight in local matches and many tournaments throughout the US.

Zafar is relieved she can finally compete.

“I’m ready,” she said to the Star Tribune, with the confidence of an athlete who has trained for three years.

Over the past couple of years, she has been rigorously training. Last fall, she flew to Florida and weighed in for her fight. But before she got her gloves on, officials informed her that she could not wear her hijab, leggings or long sleeves, so she left.

Zafar has won fans across the US, inspiring other girls get involved in sports. There are already two Muslim teen girls who are getting involved in boxing too, impressed by Zafar.

“Zafar’s fight to change the rules wasn’t just about her,” Haile said. “She fought for other Muslim youths.”

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) had repeatedly called for the Switzerland-based AIBA and USA Boxing to grant a religious exemption to uniform regulations so that Zafar could wear hijab during competition.

“We welcome this partial victory and look forward to the day when athletes of all faiths may compete nationally and internationally while maintaining their religious principles,” said CAIR National Communications Director, Ibrahim Hooper.