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| 06 September 2004 | Monday | 20 Rajab 1425 |
Athlete hurt by negative feelings about Islam
ISLAMABAD, Sept 5: Pakistan's only female athlete in the Olympics on Sunday said she was hurt by negative feelings about Islam in Athens where she claimed she was criticized for running in clothes that fully covered her body.
"Everybody discouraged me for running in full costumes and there was an anti-Islamic campaign that hurt me badly," Sumaira Zahoor told AFP. The 24-year-old from Rawalpindi finished last in her 1,500 metres heat but said she was followed more for her full shirt and leg coverings during the Athens Olympics last month than her novice run.
"They asked me why I can't wear shorts like some of the females from other Islamic countries, why is this difference. "I said that roots of Islam are more in Pakistan than other countries," said Sumaira, who added that her parents never forbade her from taking up sports.
Pakistan also sent 14-year-old Rubab Raza, the first female swimmer from the country in the Olympics. "Rubab was also followed and was asked various negative questions about Pakistan," Sumaira said.
"They think women in Pakistan are confined to homes with strict restrictions, but I told them that this concept is wrong, women are now working shoulder-to-shoulder with men," Sumaira said.
"Things have changed now, and women are taking even pilots' jobs in Pakistan with the full support of the government." Shabana Akhtar was the first-ever Pakistani athlete to compete in the Olympics, in Atlanta in 1996, followed by Shazia Hidayat in the Sydney Olympics four years later.
"The reason why Pakistan did not send female athletes before 1996 was not because of any ban but because we lag behind and could not qualify for the Olympics," said Sumaira.
Sumaira said the modern exposure was a dream for her. "I was amazed by the facilities at the international level. More and more representation can move Pakistani women forward in international events and Olympics." - AFP
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