In England, Muslim women are reported to be less participatory in sports and exercise. Enter martial arts champion Ruqsana Begum who has designed her own sports hijab; first inspired when she saw sprinter Ruqaya Al-Ghasra struggle to keep her hijab attached at the 2006 Asian Games.
“The [sport hijabs] are made of Lycra, they’re stretchy and don’t need pins,” says Ms. Begum. “A woman or girl would just pull it over her head and be ready to play sport. They’re also moisture-resistant.”
Rimla Akhtar, chair of Muslim Women’s Sports Foundation, concurs saying that “clothing for sports is an important part of improving the experience.”
