Hijabi Egyptian volleyball player compared to bikini-clad German

A culturally contrasting photo from the Olympics’ volleyball competition featuring a covered Egyptian athlete compared to her body-revealing German colleague has sparked online reactions.

Doaa Elghobashy has made headlines on Monday when a photo of her covering her whole body except her face, hands and feet juxtaposed with German volleyball player Kira Walkenhorst in the traditional beach volleyball two-piece.

The culture clash was captured by Reuters photographer Lucy Nicholson during the Egypt and Germany match on Sunday night, where Egypt fell to the European nation.

Several people praised the photo for representing how the Olympics’ brings cultures together from across the world, regardless the differences.

Following the match, Elghobashy informed reporters: “I have worn the hijab for 10 years. It doesn’t keep me away from the things I love to do, and beach volleyball is one of them.”

It was only four years ago when volleyball athletes, like Elghobashy herself, weren’t allowed to play in hijab, like she did at the Copacabana Stadium

Some readers took on social media to criticize how some media outlets labelled Elghobashy’s modest outfit as a Burka. A Burka is a specific Islamic garment that covers the face and entire body, something which Elghobashy did not wear.