Changing the game: Muslim women in Australian sport – in pictures

**With increasing numbers of Muslim women participating in Australian sport – from amateur through to professional ranks – photographer Lisa Maree Williams caught up with some of those involved

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Sarah Alameddine participates in a class at Dolly’s Bootcamp in Sydney, Australia. Dolly’s Bootcamp specialises in offering a safe place for Muslim women to train but is open to all women, and attracts more than 100 clients a month.

Photograph: Lisa Maree Williams

Dalal Karra-Hassan, trainer and founder of Dolly’s Bootcamp, at her gym. ‘It’s like a movement of sisterhood ... the girls are like family,’ she says.

Photograph: Lisa Maree Williams

Dalal Karra-Hassan and sister Aziza Karra-Hassan perform kettle-bell swings.

Photograph: Lisa Maree Williams

Dalal Karra-Hassan shows the class how to do a wall squat.

Photograph: Lisa Maree Williams

Amna Karra-Hassan (C) of the Auburn Giants AFL team leads a prayer before a match against the Wollondilly Knights at Hannaford Oval in Wollondilly, Australia.

Photograph: Lisa Maree Williams

Yasmin Ghamrawi of the Auburn Giants: ‘It’s mentally and physically challenging and motivating. It’s exposed me to different cultures and girls. I want to see how far I can go.’

Photograph: Lisa Maree Williams

Israa Kanj, Boushra Elkheir, Alyssa Alameddine and Sarah Assaad at half time.

Photograph: Lisa Maree Williams

Sarah Assaad of the Auburn Giants during play against the Wollondilly Knights.

Photograph: Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images

Amna Karra-Hassan leads a cheer.

Photograph: Lisa Maree Williams

Zeynab Alshelh, 2017 Australian national karate champion (under 55kg) poses during a sparring session at Bankstown in Sydney, Australia. ‘Karate for me started as something cool and fun to do, but now it’s more a way of life. You live it. I feel I do have to pave the way for younger women coming through.’

Photograph: Lisa Maree Williams

Zeynab Alshelh during a sparring session with her brother Ahmad Alshelh.

Photograph: Lisa Maree Williams

Zeynab Alshelh spars with Ifdal Noureddine.

Photograph: Lisa Maree Williams

Australian boxing champion Bianca Elmir at Stockade Training Centre in Canberra.

Photograph: Lisa Maree Williams

‘Boxing is very humbling and a real test of character,’ Elmir says. ‘I think it brings out the great sides in the human psyche if it’s done well. Mastering something that is so highly skilled takes a lot of repetition and patience.’

Photograph: Lisa Maree Williams

Elmir at a training session with coach Jamie Pittman.

Photograph: Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images

Elmir trains at MMA Central Coast in Gosford, Australia.

Photograph: Lisa Maree Williams

Elmir fights Efasha Kamarudin of Singapore in the 56kg weight division during the Sydney Fight League 9 in Sydney.

Photograph: Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images

Weightlifter Liali Karra-Hassan during a training session with Steve Willis ‘Commando’ at Concord CPS gym in Sydney.

Photograph: Lisa Maree Williams

Steve Willis offers some advice to Liali Karra-Hassan.

Photograph: Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images

‘Training makes me feel strong,’ says Karra-Hassan. ‘I feel a sense of accomplishment.’

Photograph: Lisa Maree Williams

(GUARDIAN)