Islam and fashion can go together: Mariam Farid

Agencies
September 27, 2018

Doha, Sept 27: Leading Qatari woman athlete Mariam Farid, who competes wearing a hijab, says she would never compromise on her identity but would not mind blending a bit of fashion with religion.

At a young age of 15, Mariam had played a significant role in Qatar winning the bid in November 2014 to host its first ever IAAF World Championships.

As Qatar's ambassador, she had delivered an emotional speech, convincing the panel to accept their bid which emphasised on breaking barriers and changing the western world's perception about the Arab world.

Four years after that successful bid, Mariam is now preparing herself to deliver on the promise when Doha will host the Championships next year. 

She is aiming to produce a strong show in the 400m hurdles event.

"In the beginning, I used to wear a long shirt and then a short shirt but now I try to find something easier and comfortable. It's (Hijab) not going to make me less faster. Even if it slows me down, it is, what makes me comfortable, this is my identity. It should not bother anyone," said Mariam.

To prove her point that running with her body covered, won't compromise her speed, she cites example of Australian athlete Cathie Freeman, who became the women's 400m Olympic champion in 2000 while running with full body-kit, her arms and head covered.

And she is not the only one who wears hijab. In 2016, when Kariman Abuljadayel became the first Saudi woman to compete in the 100 metres at the Rio Games, she also wore full body-kit. 

However, Mariam would like to modify the hijab, a must for women in many Islamic countries. Maybe 10 years down the line when she is done with athletics career, she wants to manufacture hijabs that would complement the beauty of a woman.

"I want to start my own business, which helps in empowering and inspiring younger generation of women. None of the brands are appreciating women wearing hijab in sports. It will be a good idea to open the doors," she said.

"Recently Nike gave me a hijab. Whatever it is, but it looks bad (laughs). We need brands like Nike and Adidas to do (design) something beautiful for us." 

So how different the hijab, she wants to introduce, would be from the one worn now? 

"Beautiful. I should not look awkward. Just because I am wearing a scarf, it should not make me look less beautiful. It should be fashionable. Of course, religion and fashion can go together." 

Coming from a family of seven, which has five doctors, Mariam says she does not feel pressure to perform before the home fans.

"A champion is not made in one day or one year. It takes years. I started three-four years back. I don't feel pressure. One year to go, nothing is impossible." 

When Mariam, all of 20 and without a major medal in her kitty, says that she is her own role model, the Qatari may sound cocky.

However, the strong-willed hurdler says it is important to be confident because If you are not, people around you will try to break you.

"Not everyone wants to see you happy. Majority would want see you fail. I don't want to sound arrogant but I am my own role model. I feel I can do whatever I want to do. I have my own goals and passion," she said.

What makes her so confident at such a young age? 

"That's my character. I don't accept people telling me that I can't do this or that," said the communications student at Northwestern University in Doha.

Supremely-confident Mariam, coached by Tunsian Awatef Hamrouni, admits that she has flaws too.

"I am not patient enough. This part is killing me. Coach says it will take lot of time (to do well in big championships). I am confident, one day, I will do something big.

"400m hurdles is easy to succeed fast. I am tall and it helps me to jump easily. Jumping the hurdle is break for me from running. So I have a break at every 10 hurdles, It's easy for me." 

She also insists that the Arab world is not how the West looks at it.

"Western world have this stereotype that we don't do sport. We (women) sit at home, we are not allowed to move outside. It's a perception and its wrong. Yes, it was not in our culture, 15-20 years ago but now we have strong teams, where a lot of girls are playing," she said adding that they do train with boys too.

Mariam says hosting World Championship will break a lot of stereotypes.

"It's very powerful message to the Arab world, to the Muslims and to the people in this region, that we are not less than anyone. No one could imagine that a small country like Qatar could host world championships.

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News Network
May 11,2020

Mumbai, May 11: The French Open, which was postponed to September from May due to the novel coronavirus outbreak, could be held without fans, the organisers of the claycourt Grand Slam have said.

Roland Garros had been scheduled for May 24 to June 7 before the French tennis federation (FFT) pushed it back to Sept. 20-Oct 4 in a bid to save the tournament from falling victim to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Last week the FFT said all tickets purchased for this year's French Open would be cancelled and reimbursed instead of being transferred.

"Organising it without fans would allow a part of the economy to keep turning, (like) television rights and partnerships. It's not to be overlooked," FFT President Bernard Giudicelli told French newspaper Le Journal du Dimanche.

"We're not ruling any option out."

The tennis season was suspended in early March due to the pandemic and the hiatus will continue at least until mid-July with many countries in lockdown.

Wimbledon has been cancelled while the status of the U.S. Open, scheduled to take place in late August, is still unclear.

COVID-19 Pandemic Tracker: 15 countries with the highest number of coronavirus cases, deaths

The FFT was widely criticised when they announced in mid-March that the French Open would be switched, with players bemoaning a lack of communication as the new dates clashed with the hardcourt season.

Organisers said last week they had been in talks with the sport's governing bodies to fine tune the calendar amid media reports that the Grand Slam tournament would be delayed further by a week and start on Sept. 27.

The delayed start would give players a two-week window between the end of the U.S. Open, played on the hardcourts of New York, and the Paris tournament.

"The 20th or the 27th, that does not change much," Giudicelli said.

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News Network
February 11,2020

New Delhi, Feb 11: As the counting of votes for the Delhi Assembly polls began, Congress leader Digvijaya Singh on Tuesday raised doubts on EVMs, alleging that no machine having a chip is tamper-proof.

He called upon the Election Commission and the Supreme Court to take a fresh look at the use of EVMs in the country.

"No machine (which) has a chip is tamper-proof. Also please do for a moment think, why no developed country uses EVM," Singh said in a tweet.

"Would CEC and Hon Supreme Court please have a fresh look on EVM voting in India? We are the largest democracy in the world, we can't allow some unscrupulous people to hack results and steal the mandate of 1.3 billion people.

"If they match the votes in the counting unit. Declare the result. If they don't match then count the ballots of all polling booths in the assembly. It would convince everyone and save time also as this has been the consistent argument of CEC in favour of EVM," the Congress leader said.

Polling for the 70-member Delhi Assembly polls was held on Saturday.

The Election Commission on Sunday announced that the final voter turnout was 62.59 per cent, five per cent less than 2015.

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News Network
January 30,2020

New Delhi, Jan 30: Tension spiralled in Jamia Nagar on Thursday after a man fired a pistol at a group of anti-CAA protesters, injuring a Jamia Millia Islamia student before walking away while waving the firearm above his head and shouting "Yeh lo aazadi" amid heavy police presence in the area.

Massive protests erupted in the area after the incident with hundreds of agitated people gathering near the university, breaking barricades and clashing with police personnel.

The man, who identified himself as "Rambhakt Gopal", was subsequently overpowered by police and detained. He was taken into custody and was being interrogated, police said.

The entire drama, which triggered panic in the area, was captured by television cameras that showed the man in light coloured pants and a dark jacket, walking away on an empty road barricaded by police, turning around and shouting at the protesters in Hindi, "Here, take this freedom."

The gunman went live on Facebook before the brandishing the gun. Police said they were verifying whether it is his real name.

Before the attack, the man also put out messages on Facebook stating "Shaheen Bhag Khel Khatam" (Run Shaheen, the game is over). Another message stated, "Please wrap me in saffron in my last journey with slogans of Jai Shri Ram". His Facebook profile was deleted after screenshots of his posts were circulated widely on social media platforms.

Several students recapped how their peaceful march on Gandhi's death anniversary became violent.

"We were moving towards the Holy Family Hospital where the police had raised barricades. Suddenly, a gun-wielding man came out and opened fire. One bullet hit my friend's hand," Aamna Asif, a student of economics at the university, told PTI.

She said her friend, Shadab Farooq, a mass communication student, was trying to calm the attacker but he shot at him injuring his left hand.

Farooq, who belongs to Kashmir, was taken to the AIIMS Trauma Centre.

Ragibh Naushad, an LLB student at the university, said, "The Jamia Coordination Committee organised a march to pay homage to Gandhi ji on his death anniversary. It started at 12 noon from Gate number 7, but police denied the permission and stopped the march near the Holy Family hospital.

"A man named Gopal, came there and started brandishing a weapon and later shot a round. He was also chanting pro-CAA slogans."

The incident led to panic in the area.

Khalid Hassan, a JMI alumnus, said initially many were not sure whether it was a gunshot or a tyre burst.

There was heavy police and media presence when the incident took place.

The students were heading from Jamia to Mahatma Gandhi's memorial Rajghat. The march was stopped at the Holy Family Hospital near the university.

Chinmoy Biswal, DCP (southeast), said the students wanted to take out a march from Jamia to Rajghat but were denied permission.

"They were being repeatedly told that the protest should be carried out peacefully. We had barricaded the road just before the Holy Family hospital. Meanwhile, a person was seen in the crowd who waved something which appeared to be a weapon."

"We have detained him and are interrogating him. One person has also been injured," Biswal said.

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