Friday, 07 October 2005

Iraqi softball invasion Women's softball is catching on fast in Iraq, spearheaded by Ismael Khalil Ismael, trainer and head of the new national baseball and softball federation. In 1994, Ismael applied to the Iraqi Olympics Committee for a baseball team to compete against other countries. His application failed and instead he found himself on a 3-year jail sentence in Baghdad for proposing an idea that was "too American". But 2 years later the mood of the powers-that-be had changed and he was allowed to add female teams to the Iraqi Baseball Union. Following the US invasion in 2003, Ismael applied to form a national women's softball team. Successful once more, he found women players by advertising and via the radio. Training camps were set up and a total of 4 teams formed to compete in Baghdad, with another 6 in the outside provinces. Farah Safa, a 25-year old teacher and player said, "It's a new game for Iraqi society." This summer, because of bombings, all the softball was stopped but has started again now. Although the game has been associated with America there have been no threats against the women players. Ismael, however, received an e-mail threat from Saudi Arabia. He mailed back saying that weapons won't defeat the Americans but that maybe they could beat them with sport. Comment on this article Leave your comments (Show/Hide Form) Your Name: Your Email Address: Rate this article: Poor Great Comment: BOLD "QUOTE" UNDERLINE Other Visitors Comments There are no comments currently....

Last Updated ( Tuesday, 11 October 2005 )