Amaiya Zafar, the 16-year boxer from Oakdale, Minnesota has won the rights to wear her hijab and cover her body fully while boxing in the US.
The energetic teenager is eyeing the Tokyo Olympics taking place in 2020 and this move from the USA Boxing will now allow her to focus on the game. For the time being, she can wear her scarf in the local matches at the US.
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The game has the rule of not letting the player wear shorts below the knees along with a sleeveless jersey. Zafar now can carry on with her modest outfit after the exemption.
Her coach Nathaniel Haile rejoiced after the decision.
“This is a big step. She’s put a lot of labour into this. She earned the right to showcase her skills, and I’m happy for her,” she said.
Zafar had a huge let down when she went to Florida for a fight but was sent back after being told that she cannot wear the hijab, her leggings or full sleeves.
“You get so invested. My weight is in the right place. My head is in the game,” Zafar said. To be turned away — “it’s exhausting.”
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) for long requested both International Boxing Association (AIBA) and USA Boxing to make the 5’1 an exception.