Skip to main content

Female coach trains male boxers in Egypt

A female boxing coach is training men in the sport in deeply traditional Upper Egypt.

Sabah Abdel Halim is seen in her gym in Beni Suef, Egypt.
Sabah Abdel Halim is seen in her gym in Beni Suef, Egypt. — YouTube/Reuters

In Beni Suef in the south of Egypt, boxing coach Sabah Abdel Halim, 36, stands inside a small training hall, giving instructions to male players inside a boxing ring. She trains a group of young men two days a week.

“I have had my share of disapproval and criticism ever since I started doing what I do. Not only because I am a woman who trains men, but also because I'm doing this while living in Upper Egypt, where it is not common for a woman to play any sport, let alone practice sports around men,” Abdel Halim told Al-Monitor.

Subscribe for unlimited access

All news, events, memos, reports, and analysis, and access all 10 of our newsletters. Learn more

$14 monthly or $100 annually ($8.33/month)
OR

Continue reading this article for free

All news, events, memos, reports, and analysis, and access all 10 of our newsletters. Learn more.

By signing up, you agree to Al-Monitor’s Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy. Already have an account? Log in