Bengaluru based shuttler Tanya Hemnath won the championship on Sunday at the Iran Fijr International Badminton competition. The event organisers’ actions, however, cast a cloud over the Bengaluru-based shuttler’s triumph. Tanya was made to wear a “hijab” during the medals ceremony before getting her gold medal. This occurs at a time when Iranian women have been protesting against the hijab for the past few months.
Tanya Hemnath, 19, won the second international challenge title of her career on Sunday. She won the championship by sweeping fellow Indian Tasnim Mir, the top seed, 21-7, 21-11. Tanya Hemnath was instructed to enter the podium only while wearing a headscarf during the medals presentation (hijab).
Iranian women’s anti-hijab protests are to blame for the country’s current unrest. Iranian women have been demonstrating against the country’s rule that requires them to wear headscarves for a number of months. Despite the complaints, the Iran Fijr International organisers have made it a requirement that all players from other nations wear the hijab before receiving their awards.
“I started cruising through. In the second set as well it was similar to the first and then I found the right opportunities and began making more rallies to finish the game,” Tanya Hemnath said. “I am thrilled with the win. It was a very nice experience to see a stadium packed with women. That was a first for me and very inspiring. Even the photographers and organisers were all women. I wore it respecting the country.”
Tanya Hemnath says she wore headscarf as a ceremony custom
Tanya Hemnath’s father said that his daughter wore the headscarf as a ceremony custom.
“We went to Iran to play badminton tournament. My daughter has won the gold medal. We followed the simple ceremony custom and we are back. The entire tournament was organised by women in Iran and the hospitality was very good.
“We are here as sportsmen and nothing else,” he said. (H/T – News18)
