Sports

Why Top Indian Shooter Heena Sidhu Pulled Out Of An Event In Iran

Darpan News Desk IANS, 29 Oct, 2016 04:07 PM

Shooter Heena Sidhu Pulls Out of Iran Event Due to Compulsory Hijab Rule

Top Indian shooter Heena Sidhu has withdrawn from the Asian Airgun Shooting Championship in Tehran due to a rule that forces female competitors to wear 'hijab'.

There have been reports abt me skipping the Asian air weapon competition in Iran due to their practice of making women wear hijab. (1)
— Heena sidhu (@HeenaSidhu10) October 29, 2016

Heena, who is the defending champion, took to social micro-blogging site Twitter to list out the reasons behind her decision.

Im not a revolutionary. But I feel dat making it mandatory for even a sportsperson to wear hijab is not in the spirit of a Sport. (2)
— Heena sidhu (@HeenaSidhu10) October 29, 2016

The competition's website clearly states that female participants will have to comply by the rules of the Islamic Republic of Iran when in comes to a dress code.

Im proud 2 b sportsperson coz ppl from diff cultures, backgrouds, sexes, ideologies, religion can cum 2gether n compete without biases (3)
— Heena sidhu (@HeenaSidhu10) October 29, 2016

Interestingly, this isn't the first time Heena has pulled out from a shooting competition in Iran.

Sport is an exhibition of sheer Human Effort nPerformance. Our ability to dig deep for Strength, Will Power and Determination. (4)
— Heena sidhu (@HeenaSidhu10) October 29, 2016

This is d reason I compete n I cannot compete for anything lesser than this. But I wud also not have my personal opinion politicised (5)
— Heena sidhu (@HeenaSidhu10) October 29, 2016

I thank the NRAI for respecting my views n I wud also like 2wish luck 2 r team competing in Iran. Lets concentrate on competition dan hijab
— Heena sidhu (@HeenaSidhu10) October 29, 2016

Heena Sidhu competed at the 2016 Rio Olympics and won a gold medal in the 10m air pistol at the 2013 World Championship.

Prev Next

MORE Sports ARTICLES

Harmanpreet Kaur Becomes First Indian Women's Cricketer To Play For Foreign Twenty20 Franchise

This is the first official signing since the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) cleared the women cricketers to participate in overseas leagues earlier this month.

Harmanpreet Kaur Becomes First Indian Women's Cricketer To Play For Foreign Twenty20 Franchise

Canada Beats Sweden 54-44 At Canada Cup International Wheelchair Rugby Tournament

The two countries were tied 26-26 at halftime before Canada turned it on in the second half at the seven-nation event being held at the Richmond Olympic Oval.

Canada Beats Sweden 54-44 At Canada Cup International Wheelchair Rugby Tournament

Mary Kom Won't Quit Boxing Despite Rio Olympic Games Snub

Mary Kom could not make the cut for Rio Olympics via the two qualifiers and last-ditch attempts by the IOA and the ad-hoc committee administering boxing in India to fetch her a wildcard entry also fell through after the IOC declined the request

Mary Kom Won't Quit Boxing Despite Rio Olympic Games Snub

Vijender Singh Out Of Olympic Contention, Wishes Vikas Krishan Good Luck

Vikas Krishan entered the semifinals of the AIBA World Qualifying Tournament in Baku, Azerbaijan, to book a Rio berth after out-punching Korea's Lee Dongyun in the quarterfinals 3-0