The hijab has never been a problem for me," Bahraini sprinter Ruqaya Al-Ghasara, who made history for Muslim women athletes after winning a gold medal at the 2006 West Asian Games, told Reuters on Monday, August 11.

The Games, which opened on August 8, will see many Muslim women determined to stay devout to their religious dress code while pursuing the Olympic gold.

Half a dozen veiled Egyptians, three Iranians, an Afghan and a Yemeni are competing in sprinting, rowing, taekwondo and archery.


Al Ghasara and Iranian rower Homa Hosseini won the honor of being flag bearers for their countries at the opening ceremony.

Islam sees hijab as an obligatory code of dress, not a religious symbol displaying one’s affiliations.

The issue of hijab, which Islam sees as an obligatory code of dress not a religious symbol, in sports was thrust into the spotlight in the West recently.

Last January, an American high-school Muslim star runner was pulled out from a local competition for wearing hijab.

In March 2007, the International Football Association Board (IFAB), the game's ultimate regulators, said hijab is forbidden in soccer games.

The ruling came after a Canadian Muslim was expelled from a soccer game for donning a hijab.

An 11-year-old Canadian kid was also thrown out from a national Judo tournament last November for wearing hijab.

Hijab no problem

The hijab has never been a problem for me. In Bahrain you grow up with it," said Al Ghasara, wearing a white baseball cap over a black veil that covers her hair and neck. Her baggy running gear exposes only her face and hands.

"There are more women in sport all the time from countries like Qatar and Kuwait. You can choose to wear the hijab or not. For me it's liberating," added Al Ghasara, whose close-fitting running veils come in red or white, the Bahraini colors.

Muslim athletes and spotsmen and sportswomen have been signing under tremendous success stories of all the branches of sports in the entire world


Timeturk & News Agencies