Bilquis Abdul Qaadir, 24, Basketball Player Abdul-Qaadir has been playing basketball since she was 4 years old. “I am the youngest of eight, and almost all of my siblings played,” she told Mic. “It was innate for me to play, as I grew up going to games.” A starter for her Springfield, Massachusetts, high school team since the eighth grade, Abdul-Qaadir holds the Massachusetts state high school scoring record for players of either gender — 3,070 points over her five-year career — and became one of the only players to ever compete in the NCAA women’s basketball tournament wearing a hijab during her tenure at the University of Memphis. Though her decision to wear religious attire in competition has placed her at odds with FIBA — international basketball’s governing body — Abdul-Qaadir says that her community has been nothing but supportive. “I was never discouraged by anyone,” she said. “I was a natural, so everyone who saw me play insisted and encouraged me to continue playing basketball. “Living life as [an] athlete allowed me to be able to conform to any environment,” she added. “Sports are so universal; wherever I went I fit right in regardless of my race, ethnicity or religion.” Taken from http://ieroworld.net/en/index.php/2016/04/10/muslim-women-in-sports/ - - - - - - - #WomenBasketball #WomenCanPlayToo #ThisWomenCan #ThisGirlCan #IAmThereforeICan #CreateYourOwnHappy #BritishBasketball #Basketball #LoveSports #Encouragement #Preserver #Strength #StayStrong #StayPositive #KeeperOfHappiness #Build #BuildYou #Self #WinnersDontQuit #SelfSufficient #Quote #LyfzAJourney
