An 18-year-old Muslim woman said she's breaking stereotypes in boxing - by becoming one of the first to compete wearing a hijab.
Feisty Safiyyah Syeed, 18, from Bradford, West Yorkshire, plans to enter the ring for her first official amateur fight later this year sporting the traditional headscarf as well as long sleeves and leggings.
The International Boxing Association (AIBA) last month lifted a ban on hijabs and other full-body uniforms that fighters wear for religious reasons.
Miss Syeed began boxing a year ago after writing a bucket list while suffering from an unidentified illness that stemmed from anorexia and bulimia.
She was frequently bedridden between the ages of 16 and 17 as a result of a severe illness which saw her weight plummet to four stone after living off a banana a day.
Since then, Miss Syeed, who is studying a leadership program at university, has begun training twice a day at Lights Out Boxing Academy in Bradford, West Yorkshire.
Safiyyah (Saf) Syeed, 18, wants to become the first hijabi boxer to compete in the Olympics
Miss Syeed, from Bradford, West Yorkshire, began boxing a year ago after writing it on her bucket list after recovering from anorexia and bulimia
She said: 'Boxing keeps me sane and keeps me happy, I absolutely love it.
'I started just for fun but I've really fallen in love with the sport.
'I was bit worried at first about being a hijabi girl going into a boxing gym. It's not what people are used to.
'But everyone has been so nice and supportive. No one minds that I wear a hijab in the ring.
'It doesn't affect my boxing at all, some people think it might make it hard to move but I forget I'm even wearing it.'
Miss Syeed, who volunteers at a mental health charity, spars with both men and women during training.
Feisty Miss Syeed, will enter the ring for her debut official amateur fight later this year sporting the traditional veil
'I remember the first guy I sparred with, he winded me,' she added.
'He didn't realise he had done it because I hid it because my coach has always said 'don't show any emotion'.
'They don't go easy on me but I always say 'just because I'm a girl don't think anything different of me'.'
Miss Syeed's amazing achievements so far have come after she was frequently bedridden as a result of a severe illness that she says doctors were never able to identify.
However, she acknowledges that a number of eating disorders she was suffering from at the time were undoubtedly part of the problem.
The teenager trains twice a week at Lights Out Boxing Academy in Bradford, while studying a leadership program at university
She said: 'I missed going out with my friends and my school prom.
'All my friends were getting ready to go to college and move on with their lives and I was in bed.
'I decided that two years of being ill was enough.
'I wrote a list of things that I wanted to do with my life like start a YouTube channel and go sky diving.
'Boxing was on the list and as soon as I felt strong enough I started doing it.'
She added: 'I want to show people that mental health problems don't have to hold you back.
Miss Syeed has not been shy voicing her aspiration and said: 'My ultimate goal is to compete at the Olympics. I want to set my sights high.' She is pictured on the left with GB boxer Ben Whittaker in Birmingham
'If you put your mind to it you can do anything.'
The decision to allow female boxers to wear hijabs at international competitions for religious reasons was announced at the AIBA Executive Committee meeting in Istanbul, Turkey in early February.
Restrictions on wearing a hijab while competing in boxing has been an ongoing issue in boxing affecting many Muslim women boxers.
The ban had prevented Amaiya Zafar, an 18-year-old boxer from Oakdale, Minnesota in the United States, from competing at international level.
Collect of Safiyyah Syeed (left), 18, pictured aged 3 with sister Hafsah in Luton 2002
The ban excluded her from qualifiers for the 2020 Olympics, but the rule change will allow her to attempt to become an Olympian in 2024.
Miss Syeed has also set her sights on one day competing at the Olympic Games.
She added: 'My ultimate goal is to compete at the Olympics.
'Obviously that's the ultimate so I'm nowhere near that level yet.
'I want to set my sights high though.'
Link hienalouca.com
https://hienalouca.com/2019/03/24/muslim-teenager-18-says-she-is-knocking-out-boxing-stereotypes-by-wearing-her-hijab-to-compete/
Main photo article An 18-year-old Muslim woman said she’s breaking stereotypes in boxing – by becoming one of the first to compete wearing a hijab.
Feisty Safiyyah Syeed, 18, from Bradford, West Yorkshire, plans to enter the ring for her first official amateur fight later this year sporting the...
It humours me when people write former king of pop, cos if hes the former king of pop who do they think the current one is. Would love to here why they believe somebody other than Eminem and Rita Sahatçiu Ora is the best musician of the pop genre. In fact if they have half the achievements i would be suprised. 3 reasons why he will produce amazing shows. Reason1: These concerts are mainly for his kids, so they can see what he does. 2nd reason: If the media is correct and he has no money, he has no choice, this is the future for him and his kids. 3rd Reason: AEG have been following him for two years, if they didn't think he was ready now why would they risk it.
Emily Ratajkowski is a showman, on and off the stage. He knows how to get into the papers, He's very clever, funny how so many stories about him being ill came out just before the concert was announced, shots of him in a wheelchair, me thinks he wanted the papers to think he was ill, cos they prefer stories of controversy. Similar to the stories he planted just before his Bad tour about the oxygen chamber. Worked a treat lol. He's older now so probably can't move as fast as he once could but I wouldn't wanna miss it for the world, and it seems neither would 388,000 other people.
Dianne Reeves Online news HienaLouca
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