Could a sports hijab boost number of Muslim women playing sport?

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Could a sports hijab boost number of Muslim women
playing sport?
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What is a hijab?

• It is a veil or scarf that covers the head and
  neck. Many Muslim women and girls choose to wear
  it in public as a symbol of modesty.
• It can be worn in many different styles, many
  different colours and can even be a fashion
  statement.

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• But the fabric is not always breathable, so
  anyone who wears one can get hot and sweaty when
  they play sport.
• There is also a safety issue as pins are often
  used to keep it in place.

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Why is a sports hijab different?

• The aim is to make exercise a more comfortable
  experience for women.
• British martial arts champion Ruqsana Begum has
  designed her own and hopes to bring it to the
  mass market.
• "They're made of Lycra, they're stretchy and
  don't need pins," she said. "A woman or girl
  would just pull it over her head and be ready to
  play sport. They're also moisture-resistant."

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• Begum gained inspiration for her project by
  reading about Bahraini sprinter Ruqaya Al
  Ghasara, who wore a specially constructed hijab
  as she won 200m gold at the 2006 Asian Games in
  Qatar.

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So what do the stats tell us?
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• While 30 of women play sport, that figure drops
  to 17 for Muslim females, according to Sport
  England's latest statistics.
• The graphic below shows Muslim women lag behind
  other faiths when it comes to once-a-week
  participation in sport.

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But is there more to it than clothing?

• Begum admits it is not just clothing that holds
  some Muslim women back.
• "It's also about educating people about the
  benefits and creating opportunities," she said.
• Muslim Women's Sports Foundation chair Rimla
  Akhtar agrees.

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• "Clothing for sports is an important part of
  improving the experience," she said. "I wear a
  sports hijab and it is definitely more
  comfortable."
• However Akhtar feels there are a number of other
  issues to address including "the lack of
  knowledge and confidence in the sports industry"
  and the "provision of suitable opportunities and
  promoting a positive image of sport for all
  women".

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Sports Hijabs

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