At the first ceremony of its kind, fencer and Olympic hopeful Ibtihaj Muhammad was recognised for her achievements as a Muslim sportswoman at the Ambassador Awards. The awards were hosted by the Muslim Women’s Sport Foundation the first week of May to recognise Muslim women in this field. They are a reminder that Muslim sportswomen have broken new ground in the world of sports and helped change perceptions in society at large.

Although there are more Muslim women competing in sports today than there have been in the past, they have an overlooked legacy. For example, Halet Çambel was the first Muslim woman who competed in the Olympics – and did so in 1936, representing Turkey. Many athletes like her were honoured at the awards where Muhammad won the International Sportswoman of the Year. However, women’s sports participation in some countries is still limited.   »»» mideastposts.com

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