When Galal Yafai received an Olympic gold medal for Workforce GB in 2021, there have been solely a handful of different Muslim boxers on the circuit.
Quick ahead to 2025 and Yafai is attending England Boxing’s inaugural iftar – the meal eaten by Muslims at sundown to interrupt their quick throughout Ramadan – alongside Nice Britain’s Osama Mohamed and Nadrah Hafeez, a Muslim feminine coach.
The trio are hoping to make use of their place to coach the boxing world in regards to the realities of coaching and competing throughout Ramadan, whereas additionally displaying younger Muslim athletes that their religion can co-exist with their ambitions.
“Ramadan wasn’t really spoken about before but in the past few years it has really caught up and it’s part of the conversation now,” Yafai, 32, mentioned.
“It is partly to do with illustration and having Muslim athletes on this area.
“But there’s also been a lot more education. If you go up and down the country, in nearly every boxing gym there will be at least one Muslim kid who at this time of year will be fasting, so it’s important people are educated on it so they can support athletes.”
Throughout the holy month of Ramadan, Muslims quick from dawn to sundown, and for skilled athletes, this implies they need to maximise the quantity of diet they’re getting outdoors these hours.
Muslims get up earlier than daybreak to have a meal – suhoor – earlier than the fasting begins, with athletes prioritising hydration and protein throughout this time.
It is usually essential that athletes get a great quantity of sleep throughout Ramadan, a component that’s typically ignored and one which has a big impact on their efficiency.
“Elite athletes like Mohamed and Yafai are going to want to train so we talk about the different things they can eat and drink, like having food that is high in protein or taking electrolytes,” defined Hafeez.
“If you’re dehydrated, even by one or two per cent, that can massively affect your ability to perform. Sleep is the same, your body is repairing, and recovering, and your body is absorbing the nutrients so it’s really important.”
‘Being a Muslim girl in boxing is not a barrier’
Nadrah Hafeez, a Muslim feminine boxing coach, says her religion has by no means been a barrier to her success
For a few years boxing legend Amir Khan flew the flag for British South Asians and Muslims.
He rose to fame through the 2004 Summer time Olympics in Athens, the place he received a silver medal within the light-weight division and have become, on the age of 17, Britain’s youngest boxing Olympic medallist.
His legacy continues, with many South Asian boxers citing him as a supply of inspiration.
Discovering a feminine position mannequin was a lot more durable, however Hafeez did not let that cease her.
“A lot of people ask me about my gender and religion, but to be honest I’ve never found it to be a barrier,” Hafeez mentioned.
“It’s partly to do with my upbringing – my mum was very strong in her views and has always championed coaches and boxers.
“I’ve all the time celebrated being completely different and pushed ahead with it as one thing constructive. There are such a lot of components that I symbolize, being Muslim, a British Pakistani, a feminine – it is an asset.”
‘Not even water?’
GB boxer Osama Mohamed hopes to change into an Olympic gold medallist
It is a query that many Muslims are requested after they point out they’re fasting and Hafeez, Yafai, and Mohamed see the humour in it.
“We hear it every year, it’s quite funny,” says Yafai.
“A lot of people tell me they can’t believe I’m doing it or they don’t know how I manage it.
“However Ramadan is not all about fasting. It is in regards to the connections we make to our religion and our households. By resisting meals and water it teaches us self-discipline.
“That’s a skill we need in boxing and in life.
“For us, it is a bit simpler too as a result of we’re used to creating weight and never snacking so we use this time to dial again and concentrate on issues that matter.”
‘I dream of becoming an Olympic champion’
Osama Mohamed, 21, says Galal Yafai is a large inspiration to him
With loads of Muslim expertise on the circuit like Ramla Ali, Hamzah Sheeraz and Adam Azim, Mohamed just isn’t in need of discovering somebody to look as much as.
The 21-year-old from Halesowen, who containers at 63.5kg, received a bronze medal on the 2022 European Youth Championships earlier than reaching the quarter-finals of the World Championships in November that 12 months.
He then bought referred to as as much as Nice Britain’s rising expertise programme, the place he’s skilled by nationwide staff coaches, and the teenager has massive plans.
“Ever since I started boxing, I’ve always had big aspirations,” Mohamed mentioned.
“I dream of becoming an Olympic champion like Yafai. I’ve always aimed to be the best in anything I do, not just boxing.
“Having good position fashions round you who’re from the identical space, background, and faith makes all of it appear potential.”
He’s sat subsequent to Yafai when he says this and who higher to be taught from than the person who did it himself? It is a story of the grasp and the apprentice within the making.
