After years of achieving numerous local and international accomplishments, Kafa Bajri, a 37-year-old player of the national volleyball team, found herself facing marginalization and exclusion, despite being one of the most prominent volleyball players in the Aden’s team in particular, and in Yemen generally.
Bajri recalls, "Preparations for tournaments used to start four months ahead, between 2012 and 2014, with training sessions held three days a week in well-equipped indoor halls. However, this level of support and attention is no longer available today." She emphasizes that interest in supporting women’s sports teams has declined, with resources now directed toward sports offices, leaving talented female athletes without any backing.
She continues, "The senior experienced staff have been sidelined by the youth and sports offices, and unqualified individuals have been appointed to roles and positions related to women’s sports. These people lack expertise in sports and physical education, which has contributed to worsening the problem."
According to Bajri, the state has the capacity to improve the infrastructure for women's sports, but she explains that certain forces refuse and resist this improvement. Instead, they organize short-term events lasting only a day or two, aimed solely at collecting financial allocations, without any real interest in developing the women’s sports sector.
A Harsh Reality
Many female athletes, like Kafa, face marginalization, including Belqees Sharaf al-Din, a Yemeni star who once shone brightly in athletics. She carved her name in gold among the champions, representing Yemen in international arenas, winning multiple local and international titles. From the 3,000-meter race in Singapore to silver in Syria and gold in the UAE, Balqees was a symbol of national pride.
However, Belqees now stands alone in the temple of memories, in the shadow of a glorious past. After years of triumphs, she finds herself amid the crisis of women’s sports marginalization, due to a lack of support and a decline in activities. This has turned her athletic career into a sorrowful memory, as the gap between her glorious past and the bleak present has become greatly wide.
With a voice hiding deep pain, Belqees says: "It’s been a long time since we last saw women’s sports activities. We had hope for a comeback, but the reality is harsh. Despite everything, I haven’t lost hope. I can still be on the race track, whether as a player or a coach; the important thing is not to remain marginalized or sidelined."
A Disappointment
Likewise, Judo player Ghada Ateeq, 35, who grew up in a sports environment and exemplifies perseverance and determination, speaks about the significant changes in the sports scene. She says, "In the past, there was great encouragement for sports. There was a dedicated federation and various tournaments, in addition to a strong women’s base that supported women's sports by reaching out to schools and expanding its scope. There was a well-thought-out plan to support female athletes, but today, the situation is entirely different."
Ghada does not hide her disappointment with the current situation, pointing out that "things have not improved. In fact, there is a lack of encouragement for male athletes as well, despite their great achievements. Sports, in general, are suffering a decline, and there is suppression of women’s sports."
In the past, sports in Yemen experienced a notable period of prosperity, thanks to strong support from the relevant federation, the organization of various tournaments, and well-planned initiatives to support female athletes. However, today, especially in women's sports, there has been a notable decline, attributed to the lack of adequate support and the diminishing role of women. The question remains: Is there hope for reviving the spirit of support and progress in women's sports in Yemen?
Male Dominance
Louay Faisal Sabri, the second deputy chairman of the Yemeni Olympic Committee, states, "The delay in the role of women in sports is due to male dominance over all positions and decisions." Sabri affirms that women are still far and excluded from decision-making, reflecting the weakness of their role in sports. She added, "The absence of women in decision-making processes makes it difficult to achieve tangible progress in women’s sports. Women remain absent from sports plans, except for some presence in the Yemeni Olympic Committee, perhaps due to international pressure. As for the ministries and other sports federations, they do not provide adequate support for women’s sports."
Furthermore, Yemeni women have always excelled in various sports, achieving inspiring accomplishments on both the Arab and international stages, despite significant challenges. In 2013-2014, Amal Hamdi won a bronze medal in chess in Jordan. Reem Ateeq was the first Yemeni woman to win a gold medal in the Arab Judo Championship, held in Yemen in 2007. In 2017, Siham Amer shined in kickboxing, winning the Arab championship in Jordan and securing first place. Then in 2024, Siham Amer won two more gold medals in the Clubs Championship in Amman, adding a new achievement to her impressive record, through individual efforts, as she trained and participated in tournaments at her own expense.
According to the statement of Wael Al-Qurashi, the Director General of Sports Federations, there has been a 70% decline in the participation of female athletes compared to the past, due to the current circumstances. Currently, there are very few female athletes engaged in sports within federations, such as the Table Tennis Federation, where they train at the Al-Ahli Club, as well as in the Table Tennis, Shooting, and Fencing Federations, among others.
A Missing Link
In this regard, Abdulwahab al-Hawani, the Director General of Specialized Activities at the Ministry of Youth and Sports, believes that "the reality of women’s sports represents a missing link and requires a specialized sports culture to choose appropriate sports and provide specialized clubs." He points out that there has been a shortfall from the relevant authorities and those responsible in qualifying and encouraging women in sports, stressing that "the focus should include both financial and moral support."
Speaking about the state of women’s sports in Yemen, Dr. Ahmed Jaser, an advisor to the Minister of Youth and Sports, says: "In the past, there was a women’s sports federation, with a dedicated hall called 'Belqees Hall,' and there were various women’s sports activities organized through competitions between different governorates."
However, this interest has significantly declined due to "the circumstances in the country, the lack of financial support for activities, the shortage of specialized personnel to develop the capabilities of female athletes, and the lack of encouragement from the relevant authorities towards women’s sports."
Dr. Jaser adds that "female athletes in Yemen, despite their significant achievements in fields such as table tennis, chess, combat sports, and shooting, have remained forgotten due to the lack of an archive documenting their accomplishments." He called for "the need to highlight these overlooked female athletes and to direct questions to the relevant authorities to obtain honest and transparent answers without manipulation."
Strength and Perseverance
The media officer of the Women's Sports Federation, Mohammed Al-Bahri, explains that Yemeni girls exhibit inherent strength and perseverance and are fully aware of the challenges of being female athletes in a society governed by strict customs and traditions. They face challenges starting from their homes, where many lack family support for practicing sports. In cases where the family understands the girl's desire, they often seek to ensure that the sport she participates in is suitable for her, even if it does not align with her preferences and interests. This weak encouragement and the imposition of less favored sports can lead to frustration and ultimately cause the girl to abandon sports altogether.
Thus, women’s sports activities in Yemen suffer from limited opportunities compared to youth activities, leading to fewer women’s tournaments and reduced visibility. Moreover, the sports sector in Yemen, in general, also lacks specialized female media professionals and journalists, which is clearly reflected in the absence of women's sports programs on television channels and the limited space and coverage allocated to them in the available sports programs.
This article was produced as part of the Yemeni Gender Newsroom project, implemented by Media Sac for Media and Development.
