Saniya Firdaus: Rifle Shooter Girl in Hijab

SN Ansari for BeyondHeadlines

Malegaon: Ansari Saniya Fidaus has been participating at district and state level rifle shooting competitions since 2018 consecutively. She was selected in women under 19 categories after her excellent performance in a trail. She is studying in class 12 in science stream at ATT High School Malegaon and taking air rifle shooting training by creators’ sports academy.

She secured first position at state level in 10-meter air rifle shooting matches conducted by sports department Maharashtra government in Kolhapur city. She qualified for the district level match organized by District Shooting Sports Association of Nashik (DSSAN).

Saniya said that she has taken her training wearing Hijab as well as she participated in competition with Hijab. She said that there are no restriction about any gender, cast and religion although there is a certain dress code for rifle shooters. When I was playing under Hijab most of the authorities appreciated me and permitted me to play comfortable.

She belongs to Mohammed Ali Aleem Captain family of Malegaon city and was born on 2 March 2001. She said, ‘my mentor and parent are only my uncle ‘Aleem Mukhtar’ after the death of my father Late Saleem Ahmed. My mother Shabeena Saleem is a house maker, so my uncle has taken all the responsibilities of my studies and future’.

My coach Ali Aghar (Creators Sports Academy) is providing me excellent training at ATT High School and Junior College. While my physical teacher Shahid Ahmed always support, Head Master Ziya Ansari has provided a rifle shooting range in the campus. 

Saniya wants to participate in national and international rifle shooting competitions. She is practicing daily and thankful to her uncle being there with her.

While a lot of people look at hijab as a symbol of “oppression”, girls like Saniya are breaking such stereotypes.