SHE may only be 15 years old, but Sakinah Hussain is already well on her way to inspiring a generation of young Muslim girls to take up MMA and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

The Newport teenager became the first Muslim to represent Wales at the IMMAF Youth World Championships in Abu Dhabi last month and won a bronze medal.

Hussain first began attending regular martial arts classes at her uncle's gym from the age of seven. Although there were a few other young girls in her classes, she was always the only Muslim girl in attendance.

Times are changing. In addition to competing internationally, Sakinah has been passing on her expertise to other young girls from diverse backgrounds in her home city.

The Newport-based community group 'Exiles Together' recruited her as a coach to teach self-defence classes to more than 50 young girls.

Set up by Jalal Goni and Anwar Uddin in 2018, Exiles Together celebrates diversity and encourages people who may not usually get involved to participate in sport.

Aware of Hussain's sporting prowess, and potential as a role model, Jalal approached her to coach female-only classes, and his idea received financial support from Sport Wales.

South Wales Argus: INSPIRATION: Newport fighter Sakinah Hussain

A Be Active Wales grant – which uses National Lottery funding – was awarded which enabled Jalal to hire a venue for the female-only sessions to take place in and to provide the equipment needed for the sessions to go ahead safely.

Goni said: "Due to some cultural and religious reasons, as a male, it would have been unacceptable for me to be in the room whilst the sessions were taking place.

"Claire [Sakinah's Mum] was at the sessions taking the register, and we were able to hire a separate venue. Without people like Claire and Sakinah, and the support of the Be Active Wales fund, these sessions wouldn't have been able to go ahead."

"We received excellent feedback from the sessions, with participants highlighting that they felt empowered, confident and strong after the sessions. I have two young daughters myself, and I am so glad they can look up to someone like Sakinah, I'm excited for them to be old enough to attend one of her classes one day. She carries herself so well, and it's fantastic to see how much she values her culture."

Hussain said: "It has always been my dream to teach my own classes, and to get more girls into martial arts. There's so much to be gained from doing a sport like MMA. I want to open the opportunity for everyone to participate."

Explaining the importance of groups such as Exiles Together providing sporting opportunities for young Asians in Wales, Brian Davies, the Acting CEO of Sport Wales, said: "The results of the 2022 School Sport Survey tell us that young people in Wales from an Asian background are less active than their peers from other ethnic groups.

"The survey results also suggest that there are around 9,000 pupils from an Asian background in Wales who are currently participating in organised sport less than three times a week outside of PE lessons, for one reason or another, but who want to be doing more. This would indicate huge potential for schools, sports clubs and other organisations to tap into."

Thanks to players of the National Lottery, more than £30 million a week goes to good causes across the UK through initiatives such as Sport Wales' Be Active Wales Fund.

If you would like to find out more about how the Be Active Wales Fund could be used to help develop more sporting opportunities for all members of your local community, please visit sportwales/fundingandsupport.