Monday afternoon, history was once again made in the 2018 FIBA 3×3 World Cup.
The Iranian quartet of Saiedeh Elli, Masoume Esmaielzadeh Soudjani, Mozhgan Khodadadi, and Kimiya Yazdian Tehrani defeated Andorra, 21-12. With this, they became the first-ever team wearing a hijab to enter the win column in the four-year history of the World Cup.
But this would not have been possible a year ago.
Prior to May of 2017, the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) did not allow players to wear the religious headwear during competition. A #FIBAAllowHijab movement over at change.org pressured the Geneva-based sanctioning body to ratify that rule – eventually allowing the players to wear the hijab last May 7, 2017.
The Iranian women had their breakthrough moment during the 2018 FIBA 3X3 Asia Cup last April. Two months later, they had their milestone.
“We are so excited because this is our first time in the World Cup. We are so happy and that is our the first win in 3×3 wearing a hijab ever,” expressed 32-year-old floor general Saiedeh Elli.
“We’ve only been playing for one year and this is just our second tournament together,” she added.
“We didn’t have any experience before in 3×3.”
But the fight is not yet over for them.
According to Iran head coach Nika Nikbikli, Iran’s government wants to scrap their 3×3 basketball program all together.
“We needed to show this back home for them to continue supporting our 3×3 program,” she shared.
And they are hoping that this win will show their countrymen that they can compete in this discipline.
“FIBA used to now allow players with hijab from Islamic countries to play. But last year, they allowed us to play an official game. We have a professional league in the world but it is five-on-five,” said the youngest player in the team Kimiya Yazdian Tehrani. “It’s a great experience to play in this level of basketball.
“I’m hoping that every year we can play in this kind of basketball.”
