Wearing A Hijab, A Young Muslim Boxer Enters The Ring
After three years of training and a battle with USA Boxing over its uniform policy, Amaiya Zafar will fight in her first competitive bout on Saturday. She says she fell in love with the sport at 13.
In November, young boxer Amaiya Zafar traveled from Minnesota to Florida to fight her first competitive bout.
But before Zafar even had her gloves on, officials called off the fight – they told the 16-year-old she had to remove the hijab she wore or forfeit the match. A devout Muslim, Zafar refused, and her 15-year-old opponent was declared the victor.
USA Boxing, the sport's national governing body, that athletes fight in sleeveless jerseys and shorts no longer than the knee. Zafar
