Emirati Shahad Budebs hopes seeing more women in full body or hijab sports gear will encourage other Arab athletes to compete in the gruelling CrossFit games.
The UAE national was part of the first Arab team to make it to the world CrossFit games in Madison, Wisconsin, this week.
Team Dubai competed against 40 of the world's top teams in a fiercely competitive event.
I was the only one wearing hijab. This is my identity. I’m saying I’m proud to be here.
Shahad Budebs
The athletes hope their experiences will open doors for others to take on the challenge to be counted among the fittest in the world.
“It was a great experience competing against the toughest athletes and we learnt a lot about how we need to prepare,” said Ms Budebs, the UAE national CrossFit champion who made it to the individual event in Madison, the US, in 2019.
She stood out as the only woman in a headscarf, long-sleeved shirt and full-length leggings in a sea of bikinis, shorts and tank tops.
Ms Budebs hopes the images will inspire young women to join the ranks of Muslim female athletes competing professionally while wearing modest sports gear.
“I was the only one wearing hijab. This is my identity,” she told The National from Madison.
“I’m saying I’m proud to be here. I want to tell other women, if you are only one wearing the hijab, don’t be afraid to compete against the strongest in the world.”
She received tremendous support online with messages from across the world and a shout out from the organisers who mentioned her on Twitter.
“People said they were proud and happy to see me competing,” she said. “They were very supportive.”
The teams were given a series of challenges that covered rope climbs, distance swims, lifting weights, pushing weights over an extended stretch, running and completing obstacle courses.
Ms Budebs plans to work on improving her swimming technique while wearing a hijab swimsuit.
“It’s still baby steps for us. It's not easy to get here so I want to train harder and come back stronger next year,” she said.
“Swimming is my weakness, it’s challenging because I have only been swimming for the last two years.
“Wearing the full swim suit made me slow and heavier. So I need to understand how to improve my skills.”
There have been several women who have competed in the Olympics and other international games in the hijab.
Athletes aim to broaden the conversation so it becomes natural for young girls to take up high-intensity sports.
Team Dubai placed 35th among the world’s top 40 teams and is determined to return better prepared.
The team included Emiratis Bader Al Noori, Mahmood Shalan and Irish resident Kat Fearon. Ms Fearon said others would follow the example Ms Budebs had set.
“It is so inspiring for women to see Shahad competing in her hijab among the best athletes in the world, it gives women the motivation and courage to believe they can too,” she said.
Bader Al Noori, a first lieutenant with the Dubai Police and team captain, said he hoped more women would take up the sport.
The rules stipulate a team comprises two women and two men. There have also been expatriate teams with podium finishes at the CrossFit games.
“Shahad has been a big inspiration to many women I’m really hoping we find more Arab women athletes,” he said.
“My goal was to open the doors for UAE nationals. I want a team competing every year from UAE. We need to get the next generation in the sport.”
Lt Al Noori said they would need coaches specifically to hone running and swimming skills.
“We need more training outside the gym,” he said.
“The competition was an eye opener and I’m sure after this you will find more Arab teams wanting to compete.”
Athletes said it was crucial for the young to have Arab female sports role models growing up.
Tackling antiquated notions that sport makes women "too muscular and bulky" and encouraging girls to be comfortable wearing the hijab in open competitions was also important.
“We have women who are dedicated to sport but some don’t like to train with the hijab,” Lt Al Noori said
“It’s hard in our culture to accept women who are physically strong. They see a girl with muscles and think ‘Why is she like that'.
“People need to be educated. It should start with schools emphasising more on all sports like football and basketball. The only way to change this is through education.”
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SERIE A FIXTURES
Friday Sassuolo v Benevento (Kick-off 11.45pm)
Saturday Crotone v Spezia (6pm), Torino v Udinese (9pm), Lazio v Verona (11.45pm)
Sunday Cagliari v Inter Milan (3.30pm), Atalanta v Fiorentina (6pm), Napoli v Sampdoria (6pm), Bologna v Roma (6pm), Genoa v Juventus (9pm), AC Milan v Parma (11.45pm)
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
MATCH INFO
Real Madrid 2
Vinicius Junior (71') Mariano (90 2')
Barcelona 0
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
Match info
Uefa Champions League Group B
Barcelona v Tottenham Hotspur, midnight
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
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Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
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Price: On request
Dates for the diary
To mark Bodytree’s 10th anniversary, the coming season will be filled with celebratory activities:
- September 21 Anyone interested in becoming a certified yoga instructor can sign up for a 250-hour course in Yoga Teacher Training with Jacquelene Sadek. It begins on September 21 and will take place over the course of six weekends.
- October 18 to 21 International yoga instructor, Yogi Nora, will be visiting Bodytree and offering classes.
- October 26 to November 4 International pilates instructor Courtney Miller will be on hand at the studio, offering classes.
- November 9 Bodytree is hosting a party to celebrate turning 10, and everyone is invited. Expect a day full of free classes on the grounds of the studio.
- December 11 Yogeswari, an advanced certified Jivamukti teacher, will be visiting the studio.
- February 2, 2018 Bodytree will host its 4th annual yoga market.
THE BIO
Favourite book: ‘Purpose Driven Life’ by Rick Warren
Favourite travel destination: Switzerland
Hobbies: Travelling and following motivational speeches and speakers
Favourite place in UAE: Dubai Museum
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HERO%20CUP%20TEAMS
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What's in the deal?
Agreement aims to boost trade by £25.5bn a year in the long run, compared with a total of £42.6bn in 2024
India will slash levies on medical devices, machinery, cosmetics, soft drinks and lamb.
India will also cut automotive tariffs to 10% under a quota from over 100% currently.
Indian employees in the UK will receive three years exemption from social security payments
India expects 99% of exports to benefit from zero duty, raising opportunities for textiles, marine products, footwear and jewellery
LEADERBOARD
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How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
The biog
Name: Dr Lalia Al Helaly
Education: PhD in Sociology from Cairo
Favourite authors: Elif Shafaq and Nizar Qabbani.
Favourite music: classical Arabic music such as Um Khalthoum and Abdul Wahab,
She loves the beach and advises her clients to go for meditation.
Kat Wightman's tips on how to create zones in large spaces
- Area carpets or rugs are the easiest way to segregate spaces while also unifying them.
- Lighting can help define areas. Try pendant lighting over dining tables, and side and floor lamps in living areas.
- Keep the colour palette the same in a room, but combine different tones and textures in different zone. A common accent colour dotted throughout the space brings it together.
- Don’t be afraid to use furniture to break up the space. For example, if you have a sofa placed in the middle of the room, a console unit behind it will give good punctuation.
- Use a considered collection of prints and artworks that work together to form a cohesive journey.
The Case For Trump
By Victor Davis Hanson
2.0
Director: S Shankar
Producer: Lyca Productions; presented by Dharma Films
Cast: Rajnikanth, Akshay Kumar, Amy Jackson, Sudhanshu Pandey
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
UAE rugby in numbers
5 - Year sponsorship deal between Hesco and Jebel Ali Dragons
700 - Dubai Hurricanes had more than 700 playing members last season between their mini and youth, men's and women's teams
Dh600,000 - Dubai Exiles' budget for pitch and court hire next season, for their rugby, netball and cricket teams
Dh1.8m - Dubai Hurricanes' overall budget for next season
Dh2.8m - Dubai Exiles’ overall budget for next season
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The biog
Favourite hobby: taking his rescue dog, Sally, for long walks.
Favourite book: anything by Stephen King, although he said the films rarely match the quality of the books
Favourite film: The Shawshank Redemption stands out as his favourite movie, a classic King novella
Favourite music: “I have a wide and varied music taste, so it would be unfair to pick a single song from blues to rock as a favourite"
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
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