Rehana Khalil is the sole athlete to represent a Great Britain basketball team while wearing a hijab.
โIf I think of basketball in England, there isnโt anybody else that Iโve seen whoโs from a South Asian background, is Pakistani, is Muslim and wears a hijab,โ she told The BBC.
Hailing from Manchester, she not only plays and coaches for the Manchester Mystics but also competes in the Womenโs National Basketball League Division 1.
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She also represents Great Britainโs over-35s team, set to compete in the European Championship this summer in Italy.
โI think I stand out because I donโt know any other female, Asian, Muslim basketball coaches or players, especially within Manchester,โ Khalil says.
Despite her successes might make the journey look easy, her path through the sport has come with its own challenges.
โThere was a time where within basketball, you werenโt allowed to wear a hijab and that obviously changed,โ Khalil added.
Hijab Decision
Taking the decision to wear a hijab in early 2010s, she was shocked to discover she wasnโt allowed to play while wearing the Islamic attire which was banned by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA).
In 2017 FIBA lifted the ban, meaning players did not have to decide between faith and sport.
โPeople just want to be able to participate comfortably. I potentially would have come back earlier if that rule wasnโt in place,โ she said.
Now, Khalil is helping to educate the basketball community on different religious practices.
Recently, she received Basketball Englandโs Inspiring Female of the Year award for the north west region.
Joe Forber, Manchester Mystics co-founder and former Sports Personality of the Year Unsung Hero award-winner, described Khalil as a โrole modelโ.
โShe is an example to people. Somebody that you can look up to, a role model, always teaches you things the right way and the award couldnโt go to a better person.โ
