25th September, 2014
The women’s basketball team of Qatar has withdrawn from the ongoing Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea after being denied permission to wear the hijab for a match against Mongolia.
Following world basketball regulations which prohibits the wearing of headgear and other hair accessories on court, officials had asked the Qatari women to take off their hijabs before they could be allowed to take on Mongolia.
The Qataris however refused to do so and forfeited the match as a result, before deciding to withdraw altogether from the Games as it was apparent that an exception to the FIBA rules would not be made before their scheduled next match against Nepal.
Afterwards, a player with the Qatar basketball team stated that they had been assured of being allowed to use the hijab at the Games before its commencement, adding that “We will not attend any games in this Asian Games unless the officials change their decision.”