LONDON: Arab women athletes have discussed the pace of change in the Middle Eastern sporting environment and overcoming struggles in launching their careers, delivering a message of hope for future generations.

At the WiMENA Women in Sport Conference on June 6, panelists including Burcu Cetinkaya, chair of the FIA Women in Motorsport Commission; Sarah Essam Hassanin of the Egyptian women’s national football team; and Saudi female fencer Lama Al-Fozan, a board member of the Saudi Fencing Federation, highlighted the power of role models in “setting the bar for future generations.”

The conference, held at Chelsea Football Club’s Stamford Bridge in London, was hosted in partnership with the Arab British Chamber of Commerce and featured the Saudi ambassadors to the UK and US.

Cetinkaya of the FIA Women in Motorsport Commission, a Turkish rally driver and television presenter, praised Saudi Arabia’s promotion of women racers.

The Kingdom “is doing amazing things in the world of motorsport,” she told the panel.

“In the years 2012-13, when I was racing in the Middle East Championship, I really wanted to race in Saudi,” Cetinkaya said.

“I was not allowed at the time because there was the Hail Rally. I just went. I hardly managed to film it and present it, but I couldn’t race,” she added.

“And now today, to see successful female drivers like Reem Al-Aboud from Saudi, they are doing amazing things in the world of motorsports as drivers — and as strong drivers.”

Hassanin of the Egyptian women’s national football team told the panel about her pathway to becoming the first Egyptian and Arab to play football in the UK and Spain.

The 25-year-old overcame struggles and challenges through the “support of family, a tough mentality and believing in myself,” she told the panel.

“I started in Egypt. As we all know, we lack opportunities. We didn’t have like an agent or someone to really believe in you that you can make it and live alone, and travel abroad, as an Egyptian young girl and be able to play professional football.

“So, I struggled. I had challenges, as we all do, but I believed in myself.

“I had to really have a tough mentality to overcome the negativities and the success-killers.”

Egyptian football star Mo Salah signed for Liverpool shortly after Hassanin’s move to the UK, for Stoke City FC.

Endless compliments for being the “female Mo Salah” at first felt like an “honor,” but later an annoyance, she said.

“He’s one of the best Egyptian footballers in the world — we all know that  — but please, can you say my name?

“Don’t say the ‘female version of Mo Salah’.”

Al-Fozan told the panel that her introduction to fencing was a coincidence.

“I was introduced to fencing when I was a teenager, actually. I lived in France and I saw fencing by coincidence. I never really thought that I could be a fencer,” she said.

“Fast forward, I had to go back to Saudi for my university. And back then, it’s not like what we have now. There was no vision. There was no place for females to see sports.”

“So, I was introduced to fencing and I had to go fence with the Bahraini national team.

“And step by step, I was introduced to the Saudi Fencing Federation and to the Olympic Committee, and we were able to create the first Saudi female fencing team.”

Today, however, after “immense change” in Saudi Arabia, the number of female athletes has surged from about 200 to more than 7,000 in a matter of years, Al-Fozan added.

The evolution of women’s sport in the Kingdom is a result of “the vision” of the country’s national sports strategy, she said, adding that the government and Ministry of Sport are providing “amazing support” to athletes across the Kingdom.

The background of Sports Minister Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Saud as a racing driver means the government “understands the obstacles” facing athletes, Al-Fozan said.

“When it comes to females in sports, yes, we do have a long way to go. I don’t think we’re going to do much now in the Paris Olympics.

“But mark my words, we are going to do a lot in the years to come.”