Rilek1Corner

Tag: boxing

  • Muslim Teen Wins Right To Box In Hijab

    Muslim Teen Wins Right To Box In Hijab

    Amaiya Zafar, a Muslim teen boxer from Minnesota, has won the right to compete in the ring in the US while also adhering to her religious beliefs that require her to cover her arms and legs.

    “This is a big step,” her coach, Nathaniel Haile, said Thursday as cited by The Star Tribune. “She’s put a lot of labor into this. She earned the right to showcase her skills, and I’m happy for her. But it’s just the first step in letting her achieve her dreams.”

     

     

    While this is a significant milestone in her fledgling career, the ambitious 16-year-old has many battles ahead of her both in and outside the ring.

    Her first sanctioned bout is scheduled to take place later this month on April 29 at the Spring Fling Amateur Boxing match in Minneapolis, but her right to compete extends only as far as the US border, resigning her to competing on the national stage for the time being.

     

    Zafar has set her sights higher, however, and in order to reach her stated goal of competing at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo she will have to spar with AIBA, the international boxing organization, for the right to compete in her modest attire.

    “We welcome this partial victory and look forward to the day when athletes of all faiths may compete nationally and internationally while maintaining their religious principles,” Ibrahim Hooper, director of communications for the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) said in a statement.

    “[Amaiya] has wanted this for so long,” her mother told The Star Tribune about her upcoming amateur bout.

    Zafar came close to fighting at a competition in Florida, only to be turned away after successfully weighing in, as her attire was in breach of competition rules.

    “You get so invested. My weight is in the right place. My head is in the game,” she said. To be turned away — “it’s exhausting,” she said of the experience.

    “She fought for other Muslim youths,” coach Haile said of the up-and-coming pugilist.

     

    Source: www.rt.com

  • Muhammad Ridhwan Creates History As Singapore’s First WBA Champion

    Muhammad Ridhwan Creates History As Singapore’s First WBA Champion

    Three-time SEA Games bronze medalist Muhammad Ridhwan became Singapore’s first-ever World Boxing Association (WBA) champion when he captured the Asia Super Featherweight title at the Singapore Fighting Championships (SFC) 5: Combat Redefined event at the Singapore Foochow Association on Saturday.

    In the main event of the night, the 29-year-old defeated Indonesia’s top-ranked featherweright Waldo Sabu via a technical knockout (TKO) two and a half minutes into the second round of the 10-round fight. The fight started brightly with both fighters exchanging a flurry of blows but in the end, it was Sabu succumbed to a non-stop barrage of hits from Ridhwan, with the Singaporean’s final punch bringing him to his knees.

    A proud Ridhwan, who is the head coach and co-founder of local boxing gym Legends Fight Sport, said after the fight: “I am honoured by this win and I’m happy I had the opportunity to go up against such an experienced fighter like Waldo.

    “He did not back down during the two rounds, but I did not want to leave the ring without that belt. I will continue to bring pride to my gym and to Singapore.”

     

    Source: www.todayonline.com

  • Goodbye Brother Muhammad Ali!

    Goodbye Brother Muhammad Ali!

    On a flight home from the Janaza of Muhammad Ali (ra), and wanted to pen my emotions while they’re still raw.

    It was an absolute whirlwind. When we arrived at the center, it seemed more like a sporting event than a funeral prayer. Everyone was excited to have their ticket and take pictures of the occasion. In many ways, it seemed offensive. This was a man that I grew up adoring, and It was like seeing a family member go. To be honest, I had a really hard time forcing a smile throughout the day. But I thought to myself, one of the things that made Muhammad Ali so special was that he would make everyone around him feel special no matter how swamped or busy he was.

    His family walked in and sat down one by one. Layla, Hana, etc. People surrounded them as if they were some sort of display taking pictures of them sitting in their grief. At that point, for whatever reason, one of the organizers recognized me and a few other scholars/preachers, and pulled us to be in the very front row.

    Then there his body was. I imagined him walking through shouting “the champ is here!” It’s amazing that he has a presence even in his death. I stood next to one of his sons that looks exactly like him as his coffin was rolled out. With all the selfies with his casket, snapchatting, etc. around me, I chose to focus my eyes on my dear brother Hamza Abdullah who was one of those standing next to his casket. I know the softness of the heart of Hamza and could see the emotion in his eyes and wanted to feel that rather than the “I was there” euphoria. So I focused my eyes on the coffin of the champ, and the eyes of my beloved brother. Surat Al Fajr was recited as his coffin was moved. “Oh soul at peace, return to your Lord pleased and pleasing. Enter thou amongst my servants, enter though my paradise.”

    The center roared with shouts of Allahu Akbar and La Ilaha IlAllah. He evokes that raw emotion even in his death. As Imam Zaid moved forward to lead his janaza, I couldn’t help but think what the journey of his soul must be like. That he’s hearing the shouts and the footsteps of the people around him. I pray that the angels are comforting him, and assuring him of his place in paradise. If there is any indication by the way he’s loved around the world, I hope we will all bear witness for our champ.

    The reciter than read from Al Fussilat, “those who say our Lord is Allah, and remain firm, the angels descend upon them saying “do not fear or grieve, and receive the glad tidings of the Paradise you’ve been promised.” It was at that point that I broke down. I love the champ, and I also envy him. Not in a way that’s negative but in a way that I can only wonder if the angels would descend upon me with mercy and words of comfort like I hope they have descended upon him.

    To be honest with you all, I didn’t know how much it would hurt to hear of the death of Muhammad Ali or attend his Janaza. I was surprised by my own grief. We knew he was severely ill, aging, and barely able to communicate. It was only a matter of time so why did it hurt so much? I still don’t know that I fully understand as many people have expressed the same feelings. But what I do believe is that Allah put the love of Muhammad Ali in the hearts of so many people. This is a special connection. It can’t but be divine.

    I can’t think of anyone more deserving than him to have Janaza prayed in absentia across the country and many parts of the world. I’m still immensely grateful to Allah for allowing to have actually prayed in the first row of the janaza of one of my heroes.

    May Allah shower him in His mercy, raise him to levels in the hereafter even higher than the ones he reached in this world, and join us with him and the one he was named after in the highest level of Jannatul firdaws. Ameen

    I always wanted to meet him in this life, but pray it will happen in the next.

    Love you champ,
    Omar

     

    Source: Omar Suleiman