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In Vogue: “Fight Like a Girl,” says Saudi Female Boxing Pro

Halah Alhamrani

Halah Alhamrani in the January issue of Vogue Arabia photographed by Francesco Scotti

“We should embrace our physical strength, and work towards enhancing it,” Halah Alhamrani tells Vogue Arabia in the January issue. Alhamrani, 41, is Saudi Arabia‘s first female boxing trainer and owner of Flagboxing combat gym. Read her inspirational journey below and be sure to get the January issue to read the full interview with Emirati parkour trainer Amal Murad, Emirati weight lifting champion Amna Al Haddad, and the first Arab woman to complete in Formula 4, Amna Al Qubaisi. Because this is what girl power in 2018 looks like…

In a country where women were typically discouraged from sports, as it was deemed masculine, Halah Alhamrani decided to change the narrative. She did this by opening two women-only gyms in Jeddah, called Flagboxing, an acronym for “Fight like a girl.” She also co-owns Bak2Basix parkour and gymnastics studio.

From left to right: Amna Al Qubaisi, Amna Al Haddad, Amal Murad, and Halah Alhamrani. Photographed by Francesco Scotti and styled by Celia-Jane Ukwenya for the January 2018 issue of Vogue Arabia

“I created the name Flagboxing to reinforce my belief that women are strong and capable,” she explains. Launching her gym was no easy feat – she blames “red tape” for the delay – but she started training women from her parents’ home before finally opening her own facility in 2016. “My students inspire me every day,” she says enthusiastically. “I have women who walk into a boxing class who have never been exposed to sports in their lives. That can be very intimidating for them, and yet they do it anyway. The hard work and dedication they put into their training is extremely inspirational.”

Alhamrani’s own aspiration is to train a client to become a Saudi Olympic athlete. “I’m happy to lead the path for Saudi women in combat sports by promoting this sport I love so much,” says the mother-of-one. “I couldn’t imagine doing anything else with my life. My passion for boxing has been my true driving force. I believe women are incredibly interested in boxing, but might find it intimidating to start. We create a safe environment that exposes them to boxing in a less daunting manner.”

She’s quick to point out that being seen as a role model in her community also comes with responsibilities. “I’m conscientious that I may inspire women in ways that are outside their comfort zones and traditional roles. This may create some cultural backlash among the male members of their families. But we should embrace our physical strength, and work towards enhancing it.”

Related Read: Amna Al Haddad tells Vogue, “everyone can be their own role model”

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