- By Liz Clements
- ` Wales Communal Correspondent
1 hour ago
video caption,
Tahirah Ali wants to encourage other Muslim women to try powerlifting
“Your hijab really empowers you to do more than you ever thought possible.”
For Tahirah Ali, powerlifting over 135kg looks easy, but her journey has been a challenge.
Her determination to compete in the field even led to a change in dress codes at powerlifting competitions across the UK.
The 22-year-old from Swansea now wants to encourage other Muslim women to take up sport.
Tahirah said she didn’t find powerlifting, but it found her when she found out about it during an open house at the YMCA gym in town.
“It felt so natural, that’s the only way I can explain it,” said the Cardiff University student.
picture description,
Tahirah Ali says Muslim women can be stigmatized in sport and a hijab can be seen as a “barrier”.
Tahirah hadn’t done much exercise up to that point, but it was in powerlifting that she found her passion.
She recalled that being a Muslim powerlifter was “unheard of” in her community.
She had “never seen anyone in this field before” and said Muslim women in sport could be an area that was “stigmatized” and where a hijab “could be perceived as a barrier”.
“But it’s honestly more of an empowerment than anything,” she said.
Over the years she has faced many negative comments and misunderstandings.
“I heard you shouldn’t do this, it’s too hard for you,” she said.
She also recalled being told she was “just a girl” and “not strong enough.”
picture description,
Coach Richard Graysohn Nkhata says of Tahirah Ali: “She’s really, really strong, I would say she’s literally outstanding.”
Tahirah now competes in powerlifting competitions and lifts up to 145 kg (22.11 pounds), which is more than twice her body weight.
However, due to the dress code, she didn’t even think about a competition at first.
The required dress code for the competition was, as she describes it, an “undershirt” that resembled a “bathing suit” and left some of her arms and legs “bare”.
“I wouldn’t feel comfortable, let alone allow myself to be in that room,” she said.
“A Simple Conversation”
So she took action and contacted the Welsh Powerlifting Association (WPA).
“It was a simple conversation,” she said.
“I have voiced my concerns and they said they would be more than happy if I was fully covered.
“Honestly, it was not only a sense of relief, but also a sense of empowerment because I knew I could still completely hide my identity and at the same time compete in a sport that I truly have a deep passion for.”
WPA Treasurer Lucy Cohen said in a statement: “It was really important to us to ensure that those who do want to compete are also wearing ‘decent’ clothing.”
She added that they are “proud to be leading the way in enabling competitors to do this. In fact, national guidelines have now been updated to reflect this.”
“I feel like I can conquer the world,” Tahirah said.
She feels that she not only influenced “other people’s perceptions, but also my own perceptions”.
“You can really see the expression of shock and surprise in the mirror that a young girl is in this space, but also dominant firstly,” she added.
Tahirah is now working with young people in her community to encourage them to do the same.
picture description,
“BAME women are very humble and not good at expressing themselves, so don’t underestimate them,” says Meena Upadhyaya
“I grew up with great women, but not in sports and pushing boundaries like that,” she said.
She said being a “role model” and showing other young Muslim women that they can also “dominate the playing field” is a way to “give back” to their community.
Her coach, Richard Graysohn Nkhata, said that when he met her he saw potential and offered to help her improve.
He recalled initially being nervous about approaching her because of “stigma” and holding back “a little bit” to make sure she was comfortable when he spoke to her.
“It was a bit of an odd situation for people to see someone like her working out in the gym and lifting the weight that she was lifting,” he said.
“She Can Spread Her Wings”
Since working together, Richard has been in awe of their growth.
“I am proud. I feel like my job is done here,” he said.
“I feel like I’ve reached the peak of my support. Where now she can spread her wings and then go up and conquer the world.”
“On a scale of one to ten, honestly, I think she’s going to blow the scale. She’s really, really strong, I would say she’s literally outstanding.”
Tahirah’s achievements resulted in her being named a finalist in the Ethnic Minority Welsh Women Achievement Association Awards.
picture description,
Tahirah Ali is a finalist in the Ethnic Minority Welsh Women Achievement Association Awards
The awards ceremony in Cardiff on Saturday will recognize successful ethnic minority women in Wales who are making a difference in their field and making a difference.
The association’s founder, Meena Upadhyaya, realized that there were ‘hardly any black and ethnic minority women’ and so wanted to make a difference by starting an association to celebrate these influential women in Wales.
“Our organization aims to empower ethnic minority women living in Wales, identify role models for different communities and promote equality and diversity,” said the medical geneticist.
“BAME women are very humble and not good at expressing themselves, so don’t underestimate them, there is great talent here.”
The awards ceremony will take place at Cardiff Town Hall on Saturday, where 25 winners will be announced in different categories.
Comments are closed.