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Photos: A hijab-wearing wrestler breaks barriers in Malaysia

19-year-old hijab-wearing Nor Diana has created a sensation in Malaysia by engaging in wrestling, a sport that is largely dominated by men. When she began her training, she competed wearing a mask to hide her identity, but then removed it, and has thousands following her on social media now. ‘Phoenix,’ as she’s known in the ring, is inspiring other hijabis to take up the sport.

Updated on: Jul 19, 2019 10:42 AM IST

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The hijab-wearing Malaysian wrestler known as Nor "Phoenix" Diana holds the Wrestlecon championship belt after winning a match against male opponents organised by Malaysia Pro Wrestling in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. A hijab-wearing, diminutive Malaysian wrestler known as "Phoenix" cuts an unusual figure in the ring, a female Muslim fighter taking on hulking opponents in a male-dominated world. (Mohd Rasfan / AFP)

Updated on Jul 19, 2019 10:42 AM

The hijab-wearing Malaysian wrestler known as Nor "Phoenix" Diana holds the Wrestlecon championship belt after winning a match against male opponents organised by Malaysia Pro Wrestling in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. A hijab-wearing, diminutive Malaysian wrestler known as "Phoenix" cuts an unusual figure in the ring, a female Muslim fighter taking on hulking opponents in a male-dominated world. (Mohd Rasfan / AFP)

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Diana trains with male wrestlers in a gym. Standing just 155 centimetres (five foot, one inch) tall and weighing 43 kilograms (six stone, 10 pounds), her speed and agility make her a match for almost any opponent. (Mohd Rasfan / AFP)

Updated on Jul 19, 2019 10:42 AM

Diana trains with male wrestlers in a gym. Standing just 155 centimetres (five foot, one inch) tall and weighing 43 kilograms (six stone, 10 pounds), her speed and agility make her a match for almost any opponent. (Mohd Rasfan / AFP)

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Diana talks to her coach Ayez Shaukat Fonseka during dinner. Nor Diana, a pseudonym as she prefers not to reveal her true identity, seems an unlikely wrestler -- outside the ring, she is shy and soft-spoken, and her day job is working in a hospital. But when she puts on her wrestling gear, she transforms into the fearsome Phoenix. (Mohd Rasfan / AFP)

Updated on Jul 19, 2019 10:42 AM

Diana talks to her coach Ayez Shaukat Fonseka during dinner. Nor Diana, a pseudonym as she prefers not to reveal her true identity, seems an unlikely wrestler -- outside the ring, she is shy and soft-spoken, and her day job is working in a hospital. But when she puts on her wrestling gear, she transforms into the fearsome Phoenix. (Mohd Rasfan / AFP)

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Diana applies makeup backstage before a match organised by Malaysia Pro Wrestling. “As Phoenix, I’m a totally different person. She may be small, but she can do things that people can’t imagine. When she’s in the ring, she’s fast and always wants to win,” said Diana. (Mohd Rasfan / AFP)

Updated on Jul 19, 2019 10:42 AM

Diana applies makeup backstage before a match organised by Malaysia Pro Wrestling. “As Phoenix, I’m a totally different person. She may be small, but she can do things that people can’t imagine. When she’s in the ring, she’s fast and always wants to win,” said Diana. (Mohd Rasfan / AFP)

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Diana warms up backstage before a match organised by Malaysia Pro Wrestling. “Even though I am Muslim, and I wear the hijab, nothing can stop me from doing what I love,” she said in the ring after winning a recent fight. She takes part in local outfit Malaysia Pro Wrestling (MyPW), which has similarities with hugely popular World Wrestling Entertainment from the United States. (Mohd Rasfan / AFP)

Updated on Jul 19, 2019 10:42 AM

Diana warms up backstage before a match organised by Malaysia Pro Wrestling. “Even though I am Muslim, and I wear the hijab, nothing can stop me from doing what I love,” she said in the ring after winning a recent fight. She takes part in local outfit Malaysia Pro Wrestling (MyPW), which has similarities with hugely popular World Wrestling Entertainment from the United States. (Mohd Rasfan / AFP)

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Diana speaks after winning the Wrestlecon championship belt after winning a match against male opponents. Far from being criticised by conservatives for throwing herself into wrestling, the 19-year-old has become a hit on social media and spurred the interest of other headscarf-wearing women. (Mohd Rasfan / AFP)

Updated on Jul 19, 2019 10:42 AM

Diana speaks after winning the Wrestlecon championship belt after winning a match against male opponents. Far from being criticised by conservatives for throwing herself into wrestling, the 19-year-old has become a hit on social media and spurred the interest of other headscarf-wearing women. (Mohd Rasfan / AFP)

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Phoenix leaps onto a male opponent during a match. Diana first started training as a wrestler in late 2015, following her teenage dream of becoming a fighter, and made her debut a few months later. More than 60 percent of Malaysia’s 32 million people are ethnic Malay Muslims and, while the form of Islam followed is generally moderate and tolerant, society can still be conservative. (Mohd Rasfan / AFP)

Updated on Jul 19, 2019 10:42 AM

Phoenix leaps onto a male opponent during a match. Diana first started training as a wrestler in late 2015, following her teenage dream of becoming a fighter, and made her debut a few months later. More than 60 percent of Malaysia’s 32 million people are ethnic Malay Muslims and, while the form of Islam followed is generally moderate and tolerant, society can still be conservative. (Mohd Rasfan / AFP)

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Phoenix wrestles with a male opponent during a match. “In the beginning it was always hard for me, because a lot of people said I can’t wrestle because I’m a Muslim and I wear the hijab,” she said. But she has soldiered on, with her family’s full support, and enjoyed her greatest success so far in early July, defeating four men to be crowned Malaysian wrestling champion. (Mohd Rasfan / AFP)

Updated on Jul 19, 2019 10:42 AM

Phoenix wrestles with a male opponent during a match. “In the beginning it was always hard for me, because a lot of people said I can’t wrestle because I’m a Muslim and I wear the hijab,” she said. But she has soldiered on, with her family’s full support, and enjoyed her greatest success so far in early July, defeating four men to be crowned Malaysian wrestling champion. (Mohd Rasfan / AFP)

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Phoenix holds the Wrestlecon championship belt after winning a match against male opponents. While it is growing in popularity, wrestling remains relatively small in the Southeast Asian country. There are about 30 fighters and matches take place every two to three months in front of a few hundred supporters. Diana is one of just two women wrestlers. (Mohd Rasfan / AFP)

Updated on Jul 19, 2019 10:42 AM

Phoenix holds the Wrestlecon championship belt after winning a match against male opponents. While it is growing in popularity, wrestling remains relatively small in the Southeast Asian country. There are about 30 fighters and matches take place every two to three months in front of a few hundred supporters. Diana is one of just two women wrestlers. (Mohd Rasfan / AFP)

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Diana poses for a picture with the Wrestlecon championship belt. “As soon as she became popular, we received a lot of messages from fellow hijabis who inquired about joining wrestling as well. She kind of broke the barrier and just proved to them that if she can do it, they can do it too,” said Ayez Shaukat Fonseka, her coach and fellow fighter. (Mohd Rasfan / AFP)

Updated on Jul 19, 2019 10:42 AM

Diana poses for a picture with the Wrestlecon championship belt. “As soon as she became popular, we received a lot of messages from fellow hijabis who inquired about joining wrestling as well. She kind of broke the barrier and just proved to them that if she can do it, they can do it too,” said Ayez Shaukat Fonseka, her coach and fellow fighter. (Mohd Rasfan / AFP)

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