Ibtissam to become first Bahraini woman international volleyball referee

TDT | Manama                                                             

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

The 21st Asian Men’s U20 Volleyball Championship is an historic occasion for Bahrain’s women in sport. In this tournament, Bahraini referee Ibtissam Abdulwahab has completed the prerequisite of officiating three matches to become the first-ever woman from the Kingdom to be eligible for an international referee’s badge from the Federation Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB), the sport’s global governing body.

Ibtissam completed the requirement yesterday after refereeing the match between Iraq and the UAE at the Bahrain Volleyball Association’s (BVA) Isa bin Rashid Arena at Isa Sports City in Riffa.

She will now await the final procedures to receive her official accreditation as an international referee following the tournament. “I am very happy and honoured to be the first Bahraini woman to be a candidate for being an international referee,” said Ibtissam.

The Physical Education teacher, who is also a BVA’s Women’s Committee member and the director of the women’s national team, started her refereeing career in 2014. She is now blazing a trail for other women and girls who wish to follow in her footsteps or get involved at the highest levels of the game. “I hope I can inspire other women, especially young girls, to follow their dreams in sport, particularly in volleyball,” she expressed.

“I am very thankful for all the support I have received from BVA president Shaikh Ali bin Mohammed Al Khalifa and the members of the BVA, as well as from all the international and local referees I have worked with over the years.” There are 13 women referees currently in Bahrain, according to Ibtissam, but she is currently the only candidate for an international referee’s badge.