Tehran: The male coach of the Thailand women’s team wore a hijab to enter the playing arena with his team for the Asian Kabaddi Championship. The Asian Kabaddi Championship held in Gorgan, Iran ended two days ago with India lifting the title beating Pakistan in the final. However, the tournament in Iran did not finish without some drama. The Thai coach wore a hijab to pretend to be a woman so he could be present during his team’s matches. In photographs that made their way to social media, the Thailand coach can be seen wearing a hijab or a handkerchief covering his head.
In Iran, men are not allowed to enter sports venues when women athletes are in action. This is not the first time the hijab rule in Iran has troubled sports and sportspersons.
Last year, top India hooter Heena Sidhu had pulled out of Asian Airgun Shooting Championship in Iran due to their compulsory hijab rule for all women athletes. In an interview to a leading media house, Heena had said she was against “a woman made to do certain things while men are not.”
“I am against women made to do a certain thing while men are not. It’s more of a man-woman thing. It should be avoided in sport. You are afterall inviting sportspersons to compete in your land,” Heena had said. Heena felt that world sports bodies may take a stronger stand if more athletes protest.
