| 11 - 17 Aug, 2012 |
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 Muslim Female Athletes In Olympics
For most athletes at the London Olympics, their battle starts when they take their place on the starting blocks. But for Wojdan Shaherkani and Tahmina Kohistani, just taking part in London felt like  a gold medal victory. To reach the Olympics Games, they have had to overcome political, social, religious and sporting obstacles. Judoka Shaherkani's Olympic journey lasted just over a minute, but the fact that she made it to her bout with Puerto Rico's Melissa Mojica meant it was a revolutionary moment for the women of Saudi Arabia. The country's ultra-conservative clergy tried to destroy her ambitions to be Saudi's first female Olympian, before an argument about the type of headscarf she should wear jeopardised her place at the eleventh hour.
 And though Afghanistan's Kohistani trailed in last in the 100m – in a time of 14.42sec – the warm appreciation of the London crowd who recognised her historic feat must have been the greatest of feelings. She has suffered months of harassment from men who don't believe women should be permitted to  play sport. Both have made a strong statement to the people of their respective countries and the world with their determination to take part and their dignity.
As did Noor Hussain Al-Malki, only the fourth female athlete from Qatar to enter the Olympics, who lasted just a dozen strides before pulling up injured in her 100m heat.
The record books will show DNF – Did Not Finish – but they were significant strides.
Shinoona Salah Al-Habsi of Oman and Fatima Sulaiman Dahman from Yemen were unlikely to trouble the favourites for gold, but as they sprinted down the track in the Olympic Stadium wearing colourful hijabs there was a sense of progress.
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