INCHEON: Basketball’s world body said it was looking at its controversial headgear ban yesterday after Qatar’s women’s team quit the Asian Games in a row over their Muslim hijabs.
The International Basketball Federation (FIBA) insisted its ban has no ‘religious connotation’ but said it had started a ‘revision process’ after several complaints.
As the Qatari team arrived home, the row continued to reverberate in Incheon where Chinese swimmer Sun Yang again eclipsed South Korean home hero Park Tae-Hwan in the pool.
The outspoken Olympic champion’s big win in the 1,500 metres came after he called the anthem of arch-rivals Japan “ugly”.
Elsewhere, Chinese superheavyweight Zhou Lulu hoisted the largest single weight ever by a woman and Pakistan won their first gold medal by regaining their women’s cricket title.
FIBA came in for strong criticism after Qatar’s women were refused permission to play in hijabs, a decision one player described as an “insult” and failure to respect the Gulf state’s dominant Muslim religion.
The body said the ban on headgear more than 5 centimetres (2 inches) wide was not discriminatory but it could start “tests” on easing the restrictions in international competition next year.
The rule has already been relaxed at national level after a number of complaints.
In July and August, Indian Sikh players were forced to remove their headwear at FIBA events.
“International tests may be initiated as of summer 2015,” said a FIBA statement which insisted that its regulations apply “without any religious connotation.”
“While certain groups have interpreted the provisions of the official basketball rules as a ban against the participation of players of certain faiths in basketball competitions, the uniform regulations are of a purely sporting nature,” it added. Qatar, formally listed as “disqualified” from the Asian Games after forfeiting their first two games, were the only Muslim country to enter a women’s team.AFP
