All four are accomplished Asian sporting figures, who follow the Muslim faith. But while male role models Khan and Afridi enjoy great wealth and worldwide adulation through their successes in the sports of boxing and cricket respectively, female icons Ibtihaj – an international fencer, and top level tennis talent Mirza receive nothing like the same recognition.
We live in the 21st century, yet still even these days the very mention of Asian women succeeding in sports can be met with an element of surprise, or even disdain. However, times are changing and two young female pioneers from Birmingham are determined to buck the trend.
Cricketer Salma Bi and footballer Saddiqa Shan have already proved what they are capable of, but now they aim to inspire many others to be like them. Saddiqa, popularly known as Saddi, has joined forces with Salma to promote Sporting Pathways, a scheme set up in the Birmingham area to increase female participation in sport.
National award-winning Salma made history as the first Muslim girl to play for Worcestershire County Cricket Club, and Saddi also achieved a first as the first ever Muslim girl to play for Solihull Ladies FC, who just been promoted to the Midland Combination League.
It’s not always the norm for an Asian girl to participate in any form of sports outside school hours or above the age of 16. Yet despite facing family pressures, criticism, lack of financial support or a guide to put them on the right track, Salma and Saddi found the paths to achieve their goals. They now want others like them with similar ambitions to do the same.
Salma, 27, not only plays cricket for women’s teams, she also turns out regularly for men’s sides in the Birmingham area. She is among the few club coach level 2 and level 1 umpires running sessions at the state-of-the art S&S Indoor Cricket Centre in Birmingham.
Salma, also runs the first ever Asian futsal team to compete in the Birmingham League – The Great White Sharks. A regular pundit for the BBC Asian Network and an ambassador for many sporting projects, she is also guiding the sporting careers of her sisters.
The 21-year-old has already made waves as part of this season’s promotion-winning Solihull squad and her input was highlighted when she won the Players’ Player of the Season Award.
Saddi is one of the nominees for the Asian Female Footballer of the Year accolade. If she was to win it, it would be the first piece of recognition for her talents.
“Being an Asian female can mean we need to sacrifice a lot either for family or personal reasons because that’s how society sees it, but we can also be proud to be Asian because that’s what makes us stand out, and against all odds get that one bit closer to the ultimate goal.”
By Salma Bi
