Maali Al-Enezi grabs every opportunity that comes her way to raise the profile of women’s handball in Kuwait – and the ongoing Olympic Council of Asia’s (OCA) special development project for coaches and referees is right down her alley.

Al-Enezi is one of three women among 23 handball referees taking part in the inaugural project initiated by the OCA involving 12 National Olympic Committees in West Asia and across nine sports.

The PE teacher, along with the other two female referees Dalal Al-Naseem and Mariam Bughaith, is unfazed being in the company of the largely male-dominated seminar for handball referees conducted by International Handball Federation (IHF) Lecturer Felix Ratz (Switzerland).

“I’m here not only to learn more about refereeing, but also to help raise the profile of women’s handball in Kuwait,” Al-Enezi explains. “I’m achieving both goals here and I’m thankful that the Olympic Council of Asia has given us this opportunity.”

A former national player, Al-Enezi, who took up refereeing six years ago, shows she hasn’t lost her playmaking touch as she gets involved heartily in the group discussions.

On Tuesday evening, March 22, the group of handball referees went to watch two matches of the Kuwait Handball League at the Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah Sport Hall Complex.

As part of the coursework, they were tasked with giving their views on the referees’ performances which was also dissected clinically by IHF lecturer Katz. Al-Enezi was in the forefront of the debate.

“This is the first time that I’m learning from an IHF instructor. In the past, I have attended refereeing clinics and seminars run by the Asian Handball Federation. But this is another level,” says Al-Enezi.

While the women’s game is still at an early stage in Kuwait – there are only three teams in a fledgling league going on its second year – Al-Enezi has honed her refereeing skills in the men’s league.

“It is faster, stronger, and tougher but I cope,” says Al-Enezi. “The men show us respect but it is not the same from the fans.

They pass remarks at us and say we are cute. I don’t mind it, as long as people get to know that there are women involved in the sport at all levels. If our presence raises the profile of the women’s game, then I feel happy.”