GAZA: In Gaza’s only boxing club for girls, 15-year-old Farah Abu Al-Qomsan is practicing her moves, trading jabs and punches with the other girls training with coach Osama Ayoub at the Palestine Boxing Center.
Since taking to the sport at the age of nine, Farah has found a release from the daily stresses of life in Gaza, a narrow coastal strip where some 2.3 million Palestinians live blockaded by both Israel and neighboring Egypt.
“We used to train in a small garage. Now we train according to the full rules and release bad energy,” the 15-year-old girl, at the territory’s first women-only boxing center.
Six years ago, Ayoub, started with two girls. As more joined, they moved out of the garage and began training on the beach or in rented spaces before moving into the new club building.
“The girls are ready. I trained them hard for five years,” said Ayoub. “We are setting an example.”
Now around 40 girls train in the center with its full-size boxing ring, training equipment and posters of boxing heroes such as Mike Tyson on the walls, defying expectations in a region where boxing has traditionally been a sport for men.
“Some people used to tell me ‘Why boxing, what are you going to benefit from it, go and learn something girly’,” Farah said. “I benefit a lot from boxing and today my ambition is to represent my Palestinian people and take part in world championships.”
First Boxing Club opens doors to women in Gaza
https://arab.news/c3axu
First Boxing Club opens doors to women in Gaza
- Six years ago, Ayoub, started with two girls
- Now around 40 girls train in the centre with its full-size boxing ring, training equipment and posters of boxing heroes such as Mike Tyson
4 advance to quarterfinals at Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open
- Samsonova, Kessler, Baptiste and Tauson all win, while Eala and Tjen progress in drama-filled doubles
ABU DHABI: Four WTA stars have reached the quarterfinals of the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open at Zayed Sports City, while Filipina hotshot Alex Eala, alongside Janice Tjen, won a thrilling doubles encounter which went down to a super tiebreak.
On Tuesday, in the singles, seven-time WTA Tour title winner Liudmila Samsonova eliminated Indonesia’s Janice Tjen in straight sets and McCartney Kessler knocked out the 2025 Mubadala Citi DC Open reigning singles champion Leylah Fernandez.
In the evening, Hailey Baptiste won an all-American clash against Emma Navarro to book her spot in the quarterfinals.
Baptiste said: “It feels really good to progress to the quarters. The atmosphere was great and there’s some fans here from back home in Washington D.C. which is awesome.”
On the doubles side, there was a full crowd on court one to witness Eala and Tjen overcame Fernandez and Kristina Mladenovic in dramatic fashion. The match went down to a super tiebreak and the popular Asian duo came out on top in front of an ecstatic crowd.
Away from the courts, students enjoyed a behind-the-scenes look at sports physiotherapy as Aliaksandra Sasnovich visited Healthpoint Hospital to explore equipment used in the treatment and prevention of sports injuries.
The day included an exclusive meet-and-greet, with students taking photos with Sasnovich before gathering at the Stadium Court to soak up the atmosphere.
Nadiia Kichenok visited the Healthpoint booth, where she took part in a sports injury health quiz, posed for photos, and signed merchandise and tennis balls for fans.
In addition, there was a Special Olympics Clinic for an hour in the evening and activities at the tournament village with stilt walkers and live music.
Nigel Gupta, tournament director, said: “It was another wonderful day at the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open, with huge crowds and a fantastic atmosphere throughout the venue.
“Fans have even more to look forward to tomorrow, with defending champion Belinda Bencic making her tournament debut and crowd favorite Alexandra Eala aiming to book her place in the quarterfinals in the closing match of the day.”
Wednesday is the International Girl and Women in Sports Day, appropriately timed with a strong schedule on Stadium Court. Olympic gold medalist Bencic faces British qualifier Sonay Kartal, and Eala takes on Sasnovich.
The Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open runs until Feb. 7.
