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Rio 2016: Hijab in the games

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The true spirit of the Olympics One of the most defining moments to emerge from this year’s Olympics held in Rio is undoubtedly going to be this image of two players across the net.
Egypt's Elghobashy and Germany's Walkenhorst face off in the game

Egypt's Elghobashy and Germany's face off

Doaa Elghobashy was selected to represent Egypt in beach volleyball at the games, with her compatriot Nada Meawad. While the traditional way of playing the game is while wearing a two piece bikini, rules were changed some years ago, in time for the London 2012 games to incorporate more players, specifically from Muslim countries. Elghobashy and Meawad chose to wear full sleeved shirts paired with leggings to conform to a modest dress code according to their beliefs while Elghobashy topped her ensemble with a hijab. She says she has worn a hijab for the past ten years and never found it to keep her from doing things she loves, beach volleyball one of them. While the duo lost to the German pairing of Laura Ludwig and Kira Walkenhorst, the game itself was a testament to how inclusive Olympics truly are, and its true spirit.
US fencer Ibtihaj Mohammad

US fencer Ibtihaj Mohammad

Elghobashy and Meawad are not the only hijabi athletes at Rio. Ibtihaj Mohammad, the US fencer has worn a hijab throughout her career. Pakistan has also sent in the first female shooter to participate in the games, Minhal Sohail who also wears the Muslim head covering.
Pakistani shooter Minhal Sohail

Pakistani shooter Minhal Sohail

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