Minnesota Muslim teen wins fight to box wearing a hijab
Amaiya Zafar's next legal round could be international boxing regulators before Olympics.
Amaiya Zafar, who weighs 106 pounds, trained with coach Jose Becerra at Sir Cerresso Fort Boxing and Fitness in St. Paul on Wednesday night. AARON LAVINSKY – STAR TRIBUNE
By Mary Lynn Smith Star Tribune
APRIL 20, 2017 — 9:21PM
Amaiya Zafar no longer will have to choose between her religion or the boxing ring.
The 16-year-old from Oakdale, who is Muslim, recently won a battle that will allow her to wear a hijab and fully cover her arms and legs while boxing. That means she can put on her boxing gloves later this month to fight her first sanctioned match.
A new USA Boxing exemption means Zafar can adhere to her religious beliefs rather than to a mandate that she wear a sleeveless jersey and shorts that can't go below the knees.
"This is a big step," her coach, Nathaniel Haile, said Thursday. "She's put a lot of labor into this. She earned the right to showcase her skills, and I'm happy for her. But it's just the first step in letting her achieve her dreams."
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