Baghdad – IA – Maitham Al-Khafaji
Our women’s sport is full of many players who have performed at great levels in local competitions and proven their right to represent Iraq in international forums. The national team player, academic and educator Marwa Muhammad, stands out in particular, who has excelled as a player, coach and teacher, as she holds a master’s degree in physical education. She excelled in several games, including handball, basketball, volleyball, and netball.
Marwa Muhammad said in an interview she conducted with the (INA): “Her sports career began as a player in the school handball teams, then she moved on to play in the educational team, as she participated in several tournaments held in more than one governorate, in which she achieved advanced positions, including first and third.” After that, I moved on to play basketball, represented local clubs, and participated in several tournaments, the most important of which was the Grand Prix tournament that was held in Baghdad, in which I represented Al-Nasr Club, in which I won third place at the expense of Al-Mustaqbal Club. After that, I participated in the police club’s tests to form a handball team, and I represented the club in 2016. We won third place in the local league in Babil Governorate, and our last local participation was with Al-Najma Club, which won third place in the Iraq Club Championship, which was held in Erbil for the 2022 season.”
Muhammad added that she “played for several different national teams, namely handball, netball, cross-ball, and ball. She was called to represent the national handball team to participate in the West Asian Championship, which was held in the Kingdom of Jordan, and it was a weak participation for Iraq due to poor preparation. After that, she was called to the football team.” At that time, it was a new game that combined basketball and handball. Indeed, she participated as team captain in the Asian Championship, which was held in India, and we won the title deservedly. After that, she was called to represent the netball team, which is a new game, and she participated in a preparation camp in the Emirates, and preparations are still continuing for this game. In addition to preparing to participate in the club handball championship scheduled to be held next July.”
Muhammad continued, “She worked as a coach for the third Karkh education team and the first Karkh girls’ education team in handball. She is now a physical education teacher for the middle school in one of Baghdad’s schools and is preparing to complete her graduate studies to obtain a doctorate in her specialty.”
