 Melika Balali, the reigning 2022 British Champion in freestyle wrestling, displaying her mastery in the sport | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Native name | ملیکا بلالی |
| Nationality | Iranian, Scottish |
| Born | 27 December 1999 Shahr-e Kord, Iran |
| Weight | 62 kg (137 lb) |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Freestyle wrestling |
Melika Balali (Persian:ملیکا بلالی; born 27 December 1999) is an Iranian-born Scottish wrestler, who won the British championship gold medals. Besides her wrestling career, she is a poet and painter who talks about women's rights in her work.[1]
In July 2022, she became a British champion in freestyle wrestling and protested the compulsory hijab on the first platform, by raising a sign that read, "stop forcing hijab, I have the right to be a wrestler".[1][2][3][4][5]
- ^ a b Younesipour, Payam (30 June 2022). "'I Learned Freedom in the UK': Iranian-Born Wrestler Melika Balali on Taking a Stand Against Forced Hijab". Iran Wire. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
- ^ "ملیکا بلالی؛ اعتراض به حجاب اجباری روی سکوی قهرمانی کشتی زنان بریتانیا". Iran Wire.
- ^ "قهرمان ایرانی‌تبار کشتی بریتانیا خواستار آزادی انتخاب پوشش در ایران شد". رادیو فردا.
- ^ "اعتــراض ملیکــا بـلالــی، قهرمـان ایرانی کشتی بریتانیا، به حجاب اجباری در ایران". Iran international.
- ^ "دفاع قهرمان ایرانی‌تبار کشتی زنان بریتانیا از حق زنان ایرانی برای انتخاب نوع پوشش".