By Ghadeer Ghloum

KUWAIT: Noura Al-Mutairi is a Kuwaiti champion who has achieved remarkable success in the realm of combat sports, winning multiple medals. Her most recent victory was at the Riyadh World Combat 2023, where she bagged the gold medal and proudly raised Kuwait’s flag in first place, solidifying her position as a Kuwaiti boxing champion. Mutairi’s significant achievements prove that not only has Kuwait produced champions, but it has produced champions who are female.

Mutairi told Kuwait Times it is important to give girls the opportunity to thrive in any field they desire, even if it is boxing, which many people consider to be limited to young men. She highlighted that by sharing the triumphs of female boxers, societal barriers can be dismantled, inspiring young girls to pursue their passions, besides motivating existing champions to achieve even more.

During her interview with Kuwait Times, Mutairi elaborated that despite facing significant societal barriers, she has overcome obstacles and fought for equal recognition opportunities, as she rejects the notion that men and women have different capabilities. She instead sees this notion as a motive to train even harder and prove that women can match the efforts of men in training.

“It is what gives me more motivation to train more. To show them that women can do the same effort in training as men,” she said, proving her own hypothesis through her achievements in international tournaments and showcasing the potential for Kuwaiti women in boxing. Moreover, Mutairi emphasized the importance of highlighting women in sports through various forms, including media, organizations and individuals to provide a positive and welcoming environment for those who have the potential to excel.

By sharing the triumphs of female boxers, societal barriers can be dismantled, inspiring young girls to pursue their passions in addition to motivating existing champions to achieve even more. “We seek to eliminate these stereotypes about women and sports by spreading awareness, by supporting and encouraging women’s achievements in all fields, and by publishing achievements and holding awareness sessions on the importance of sports,” Mutairi said.

According to her, if we were to speak about boxing for instance, then to ensure female boxers thrive, it is crucial to promote equitable representation in the realm of boxing and combat sports. This encourages young girls to participate in boxing and provides them with proper training and resources, which are essential for fostering their growth, whether in boxing or any other sport or field of their interest.