Rahimi won the bronze medal in the 57kg category in Birmingham and instantly left a trailblazing path for young Muslim women across the world. (Express Photo)
World boxing championship: Hijab-wearing Tina Rahimi an inspiration for Muslim women worldwide
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2022 was a year of many firsts for Tina Rahimi. She became the first female Muslim boxer to represent Australia at a multi-sport event when she participated in the Commonwealth Games. It was also the first time a boxer was wearing a hijab at the CWG.
Rahimi won the bronze medal in the 57kg category in Birmingham and instantly left a trailblazing path for young Muslim women across the world. Since then, a flurry of questions have come her way regarding her religious choices, and she says that made her a bit more conscious than usual.
“I do get asked about the hijab a lot. I don’t mind when it comes from a place of curiosity. I understand I don’t look like a regular boxer,” Rahimi told The Indian Express. “But some doubts do tend to creep in that people might judge me just on how I look. They might not like me because of how I dress. Sometimes, I’m afraid some judges might not like me because of how I look, and decisions might not go my way because of that.”
Despite the doubts, Rahimi does believe that there has never been any reason for her to think that anyone treated her differently due to her wearing a hijab. The Sydney-based boxer grew up in an Iranian family, and her father was a wrestler in Australia. Pursuing sports, then, was always encouraged at home, but few would have guessed she would take up boxing.
Rahimi was a make-up artist before picking up boxing recreationally in 2017, and it went from being a hobby to a passion the following year, when she had her first amateur fight. She qualified for last year’s World Championship, and later rose to fame in Australia with her CWG medal.
Expectations and self-doubts
She says self-belief never came naturally to her, so rather than the pushback from the outside world, it was harder dealing with her own self-doubts. “I had a lot more nerves when I was just starting out, lots of different kinds of thoughts coming into my head about how people perceive me. The bigger struggle was getting out of my comfort zone when I was boxing in the hijab,” she said.
Rahimi considers herself lucky that she is supported back home, but admits that dealing with the scrutiny and being in the public eye has not been easy. “There was never any negative reaction when I started. But I do feel that there are more eyes on me. Positively or negatively. I do feel it when I lose; that those who are supporting my decision want so badly for me to do well, and I’m letting them down a little.”
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The scrutiny may have intensified, but so has the sense of pride. Rahimi hopes that when young Muslim women see her fighting, they would feel that they too can do whatever it takes to follow their dreams in the hijab.
“I’m proud of representing my country and community. That people watch me fight and can see that I’m a Muslim woman, that I can do what I love and continue to dress the way I want, for my religion,” she said.
At the 2023 Women’s World Championships in Delhi, Rahimi was knocked out of the tournament by home favourite Manisha Moun on Saturday. The bigger fight – to change the public perception of Muslim and hijab-wearing women – continues.
Namit Kumar is a Senior Sports Correspondent for The Indian Express, based in New Delhi. He is known for his versatile reporting across several major sports disciplines.
Professional Profile
Specializations: He covers a wide variety of sports including tennis, football, cricket, and motorsports.
Focus: His writing often delves into the finer details and technical analysis of the sports he covers.
Social Media: You can find him on X (formerly Twitter) at @namitkumar_17.
Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025)
Namit’s recent work focuses heavily on international cricket series and domestic tournaments, as well as high-profile global tennis events:
International Cricket (India vs South Africa Series):
"Intelligence, skill, and heart: How Arshdeep Singh took out Reeza Hendricks" (Dec 15, 2025) — A detailed analysis of Arshdeep's tactical comeback in the T20I series.
"How India's seamers froze South Africa in chilly Dharamshala" (Dec 14, 2025).
"Why India's T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav and vice-captain Shubman Gill losing form, is the start of a blunt headache" (Dec 12, 2025) — An analytical piece on the statistics and form of India's leadership duo.
"Quinton de Kock dismantles Indian bowling combination with silent savagery" (Dec 11, 2025).
Domestic Cricket (Ranji Trophy):
"Ranji Trophy: J&K conquer Kotla and Delhi for first time" (Nov 11, 2025) — Reporting on the historic first win for Jammu & Kashmir over Delhi in the tournament's history.
"What makes J&K pacer Auqib Nabi special" (Nov 8, 2025) — A profile on the pacer's accuracy and swing.
"Unearthing the next Virat Kohli still a while away but Delhi's young batting talent full of promise" (Oct 24, 2025).
Tennis and Golf:
"Jannik Sinner's winter-time madness: How Italian refined his game to beat Alcaraz" (Nov 17, 2025) — A deep dive into Sinner’s technical improvements following his US Open loss.
"Everyone's come to watch Rory McIlroy but keep an eye out for 'people's champion' Tommy Fleetwood" (Oct 17, 2025).
Football Tactics:
"Why are long throw-ins giving football defenders and lawmakers a headache?" (Nov 2, 2025) — An analytical piece on the evolving strategies surrounding throw-ins in modern football.
Reporting Style
Namit is active in covering the Delhi sports scene, providing detailed match reports for international cricket matches and Ranji Trophy fixtures at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. He also provides on-the-ground reporting for happenings in the city, such as his recent coverage of the DP World India Championship golf event. Additionally, he actively writes on tennis, analysing matches and reporting on major events, especially during the Grand Slam tournaments. ... Read More
