Saudi boxers train for the first women’s championship

Saudi women are training for the Kingdom’s first female boxing tournament

at a Riyadh gym called ‘Fight Club’

(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) GYM OWNER, BANDAR ALESAWI, SAYING: "I'm happy with what's happening and with the level of the women, thank god such tournaments are becoming more prevalent in Saudi Arabia and female tournaments for martial arts. In our gym we have seven women who are participating in the Kingdom's boxing tournament next weekend.”

American coach Lee Stark leveled up the training regimen

(SOUNDBITE) (English) AMERICAN BOXING COACH, LEE STARKS, SAYING: “We are really excited for the tournament that's coming, and I think the women are going to do very well, we wish we had a little more time to prepare but I think they are doing very well."

Organized by the Saudi Arabian Boxing Federation

the tournament will run December 10 - 11

(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SAUDI FEMALE BOXER, SARAH ALSHAHRANI, SAYING: "I've been boxing for four years now, but I used to practice on sandbags and heavy bags. I improved a lot when I joined 'Fight Club' where I was able to spar with people in the ring, also by following the instructions of coach Lee, he taught us the safe key words and how to defend ourselves, to build a strategy, and how to set a trap for the person against us. I'm really excited for the boxing tournament especially that it will see different countries participating. This is our chance to prove that the Saudi woman is capable."