Article by- Sandeep Singh (Woman Gateway)
 
Golden Girl Ghasra braced the post and lifted her hands towards the sky; it was not only the symbolic thanksgiving to the almighty but a triumph of Arab women scaling new heights. When she stood on the podium, head held high the eyes swelling with pride for here was a girl from Bani Jamra who took Bahrain womanhood to Olympian heights where few men have gone before.
 
It’s a feeling what athletes dream of … the medals and the body wrapped in country flag with thousands cheering their name. Raqya Al Gahsra, the premier sprinter in Asia does not seek cover in excuses of religion and hijab stopping women from what they want to do. She runs those miles wearing her signature white scarf crossing the finish lines. She runs faster than competition.
 
“Wearing traditional Muslim dress has encouraged me. It’s not an obstacle but makes me faster,” Ghasra said during an interview. Ghasra has won major Championships ranging from the Asian Games, Arab Athletics Championships to the much recent Indoor Championship in Doha where she clinched two gold medals for the 60 and 400 metre sprint. She came back after recovering serious hamstring injury.
 
Probably the only covered sprinter from the region, she cannot be missed on the tracks. Ghasra is emerging as a strong force winning all the major events in the region. That’s not all she has become a role model for several girls who are taking up sports seriously something which was not encouraged in the past.

Her performance on the track was appreciated by the Bahrain government as she was awarded with the Kingdom’s Order of the first class by His Majesty the King, Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa last year. She was also awarded the ‘Islamic Woman” prize by the Women Sport Association (WSA) in Iran. Ghasra’s race of success just began as more are expected from her as she believes in herself and the power of love and dedications. Ghasra will touch the stars one day as the sky is the limit for her ambitions. She is a wonderful woman that brings joy to the hearts of all especially those who respect and admire women’s achievements.