This Teen Boxer Wants A Chance to Compete Wearing Her Hijab | National Geographic

there’s a prayer that we do that says if

there’s a prayer that we do that says if this is good for me give it to me and if

this is good for me give it to me and if

this is good for me give it to me and if it’s not good for me then keep it away

it’s not good for me then keep it away

it’s not good for me then keep it away from me and every time I make that

from me and every time I make that

from me and every time I make that prayer I’m like but what if God takes it

prayer I’m like but what if God takes it

prayer I’m like but what if God takes it for me my name is Mai Zafar I’m 16 years

for me my name is Mai Zafar I’m 16 years

for me my name is Mai Zafar I’m 16 years old and I am a Muslim boxer from

old and I am a Muslim boxer from

old and I am a Muslim boxer from Minnesota I love boxing

Minnesota I love boxing

Minnesota I love boxing but I love my religion and I want to be

but I love my religion and I want to be

but I love my religion and I want to be able to do both without compromising

able to do both without compromising

able to do both without compromising another I’m not allowed to fight with my

another I’m not allowed to fight with my

another I’m not allowed to fight with my hijab because in the rule book it says

hijab because in the rule book it says

hijab because in the rule book it says you can only fight with the like

you can only fight with the like

you can only fight with the like sanctioned uniform which is the trunks

sanctioned uniform which is the trunks

sanctioned uniform which is the trunks in New Jersey all right really

in New Jersey all right really

in New Jersey all right really yeah I cover to show my faith and my

yeah I cover to show my faith and my

yeah I cover to show my faith and my like self-respect

like self-respect

like self-respect I think it’s ignorance when people say

I think it’s ignorance when people say

I think it’s ignorance when people say just take it off it’s like to me it’s

just take it off it’s like to me it’s

just take it off it’s like to me it’s like would you fight with no clothes

like would you fight with no clothes

like would you fight with no clothes people in the Muslim community not

people in the Muslim community not

people in the Muslim community not people that I know but online it’ll be

people that I know but online it’ll be

people that I know but online it’ll be like this is not Islamic girls shouldn’t

like this is not Islamic girls shouldn’t

like this is not Islamic girls shouldn’t be doing this to say that I can’t

be doing this to say that I can’t

be doing this to say that I can’t because I’m a girl it says nowhere that

because I’m a girl it says nowhere that

because I’m a girl it says nowhere that I can’t do anything a guy can do before

I can’t do anything a guy can do before

I can’t do anything a guy can do before bossing I wished a girl you know and

bossing I wished a girl you know and

bossing I wished a girl you know and then boss he showed me that no I grew up

then boss he showed me that no I grew up

then boss he showed me that no I grew up being a girl means that you’re strong

being a girl means that you’re strong

being a girl means that you’re strong and I can push harder than most guys

and I can push harder than most guys

and I can push harder than most guys because I have discipline I have the

because I have discipline I have the

because I have discipline I have the strength that a lot of people told me I

strength that a lot of people told me I

strength that a lot of people told me I didn’t have I’ve talked to local

didn’t have I’ve talked to local

didn’t have I’ve talked to local officials and the officials with like

officials and the officials with like

officials and the officials with like USA Boxing and they’ve been helpful the

USA Boxing and they’ve been helpful the

USA Boxing and they’ve been helpful the antares I hit a director has asked like

antares I hit a director has asked like

antares I hit a director has asked like international for a waiver so I’m just

international for a waiver so I’m just

international for a waiver so I’m just waiting to hear back from that

waiting to hear back from that

waiting to hear back from that I’ve worked so hard for it and I keep

I’ve worked so hard for it and I keep

I’ve worked so hard for it and I keep working hard every single day that for

working hard every single day that for

working hard every single day that for them to tell me you can’t fight it’s

them to tell me you can’t fight it’s

them to tell me you can’t fight it’s like what do you mean like I of course I

like what do you mean like I of course I

like what do you mean like I of course I know how to and I’m good at it maybe the

know how to and I’m good at it maybe the

know how to and I’m good at it maybe the rules say I can’t but I think the rules

rules say I can’t but I think the rules

rules say I can’t but I think the rules will change I want to fight with my job

will change I want to fight with my job

will change I want to fight with my job and Under Armour and the 21x eventually

and Under Armour and the 21x eventually

and Under Armour and the 21x eventually that’s my dream I will be able to fight

that’s my dream I will be able to fight

that’s my dream I will be able to fight someday soon hopefully but if not I

someday soon hopefully but if not I

someday soon hopefully but if not I don’t care how old I am

don’t care how old I am

don’t care how old I am I’m gonna train and tell them

I’m gonna train and tell them

I’m gonna train and tell them [Music]