11 Young Egyptian Hijabi Olympians at Rio 2016

As of Day 9, Egypt has bagged 2 bronze medals at Rio 2016.

After 104 years participation at the Olympics, Egypt has its first women to win an Olympic medal. Sara Ahmed, a young and strong 18 years old won the bronze medal for 69 kg category after lifting combined weight of 255 kg.

The Arab Republic of Egypt is a modern Islamic country, with a population of 91.4 mil, 90% of which is Muslim. Their first participation in the Olympics was in 1912, and at Rio 2016, they sent 119 athletes to compete in 22 games. Thirty seven (37) of them are female of which eleven (11) are hijabi or competing in modest attires. These eleven ladies compete in wrestling, taekwondo, shooting, beach volleyball, archery, athletics and weightlifting.

Here are the 11 ladies :

1. Sara Ahmed, Weightlifting

Sara became the first Arab woman to win an Olympic weightlifting medal. She won the third place for women’s 69 kg, recording a combined weight of 255 kg

Sara Ahmed won bronze medal at the Rio 2016

Sara Ahmed, at 18,  won bronze medal at the Rio 2016

2. Doaa Elghobashy, Beach Volleyball

Doaa and partner Nada are in a stereotype game, where participants usually compete in bikinis. They have gotten many heads turned to their sides despite being all-covered.

DOAA ELGHOBASHY

Doaa is only 19. Let’s hope we see her again in Tokyo 2020

3. Nada Meawad, Beach Volleyball

Nada and Doaa played three games in round one to give them exposure of the games. Nada is only 18. They played against the German, Italy and Canada teams at Rio 2016.

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - AUGUST 09: Nada Meawad (L) and Doaa Elghobashy of Egypt looks on during the Women's Beach Volleyball Preliminary Pool A match against Marta Menegatti and Viktoria Orsi Toth of Italy on Day 4 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Beach Volleyball Arena on August 9, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – AUGUST 09: Nada Meawad (L) and Doaa Elghobashy of Egypt looks on during the Women’s Beach Volleyball Preliminary Pool A match against Marta Menegatti and Viktoria Orsi Toth of Italy on Day 4 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Beach Volleyball Arena on August 9, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

4. Fatma El Sharnouby, Athletics

Fatma runs the 800 meters at Rio 2016. Her personal best time is 2:18.19 in April 2016. Young at 19, Fatma has a lot of room to learn from great athletes and runners at the Olympics.

Fatma while racing at the World Cross Country Meet, March 2015

Fatma while racing at the World Cross Country Meet, March 2015

5. Shimaa Hashad, Shooting

Shima is not new in the shooting scene. Rio 2016 is her third time partcipating at the Olympics, first in 2004. She competed for women’s 10m air rifle and ranked 27 out of 51 contestants.

Shimaa Hashad is ranked 27 at Rio 2016

Shimaa Hashad, 35,  is ranked 27 at Rio 2016

6. Hadir Mekhimar, Shooting

Young and new in the shooting scene, Hadir is ranked 47 at Rio 2016. She won the gold medal at the Summer Youth Olympics in China at age 16.

Hadir Mekhimar the young Olympian shooter

Hadir Mekhimar the young Olympian shooter

7. Hedaya Wahba, Taekwondo

Second time Olympian at Rio 2016, young Hedaya competes in Taekwondo women’s 57 kg. She qualified for the quarterfinals at the London 2012 for the same category.

Hedaya Wahba, 23 is a taekwondo practitioner

Hedaya Wahba, 23 is a taekwondo practitioner

8. Seham El Sawalhy, Taekwondo

Second time Olympian at Rio 2016, Seham, 25 years old, competed in the 67 kg category at London 2012. This year she competes for the same category.

10 AUG 2012 - LONDON, GBR - Seham el-Sawalhy (EGY) (right) of Egypt battles with Elin Johansson of Sweden during their women's -67kg category preliminary round Taekwondo contest at the London 2012 Olympic Games at Excel in London, Great Britain (PHOTO (C) 2012 NIGEL FARROW)

10 AUG 2012 – LONDON, GBR – Seham el-Sawalhy (EGY) (right) of Egypt battles with Elin Johansson of Sweden during their women’s -67kg category preliminary round Taekwondo contest at the London 2012 Olympic Games at Excel in London, Great Britain
(PHOTO (C) 2012 NIGEL FARROW)

 

9. Shaimaa Haridy, Weightlifting

Shaimaa competes in the Women’s over 75 kg category. In the past, she has won gold medals at the Arab Weightlifting Championships 2015 and 17th Mediterranean Games in 2013, when she lifted 110 kg and 135 kg in snatch and clean & jerk categories respectively.

Young and Strong Shaimaa

Young and Strong Shaimaa

10. Noura Mohamed, Fencing

Noura competes in women’s individual foil at the Olympics for the first time.

Noura Mohamed on the left

Noura Mohamed, 18, on the left lost to Tunisian fencer at Rio 2016

11. Reem Mansour, Archery

Reem is 22 and she competes in the women’s individual archery category for the first time at the Olympics.

Reem lost at round of 64 of the event

Reem lost at round of 64 of the event

Egypt has a good line up of many young promising female athletes participating at  Rio 2016 of which will gain tremendous experience and invaluable insights of doing better for future Olympics.

 

Pictures and Info Source:

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