Shiya Koyi

Koya — Women’s sports in the region have seen remarkable growth in recent years, with female students increasingly taking part in various competitions and enrolling in sports institutes and departments. Yet despite this growing presence, many students still express concern about the lack of professional opportunities for women as physical education teachers.

Female students from the College of Physical Education and Sports Sciences in Koya, in the Kurdistan Region, played a basketball match against the Koya Sports Club—an important step reflecting the rising participation of women in official sports activities.

Habiba Nihad, a lecturer at Koya University’s College of Physical Education, said the department organizes numerous annual courses for both male and female students, noting that the field has become a successful space combining health, activity, and recreation.

She explained that what inspires pride is the strong enthusiasm shown by female students both inside and outside the university, whether academically or through their involvement in sports—something that has helped encourage more women to participate actively.

Regarding the limited job opportunities available to sports graduates, she said this remains a major challenge, especially for women. Despite the shortage of available positions, the department offers two specializations in the second year—Health and Performance—opening pathways for students to work in medical fields, physical therapy, or as sports club therapists.

She emphasized that students with unique talent can expand their career horizons beyond clubs and gyms by creating new job opportunities and developing their athletic careers outside traditional teaching roles.

 

"A Club Must Be Established"

Helen Rishwan, a third-year student and basketball player at the College of Physical Education, expressed her happiness about participating in the game. She stressed the need to give girls more opportunities to showcase their abilities:
“The lack of jobs after graduation is one of the major challenges. Even positions for sports teachers are scarce.”
She highlighted the importance of establishing diverse sports clubs and facilities to open new avenues for graduates and provide them with practical opportunities in various fields.

Kovar Fouad also noted that sports hold significant importance in Koya, with everyone participating collectively. She expressed hope that the university would gain more recognition through its participation in the tournament.

She thanked the instructors for giving students the confidence to take part, confirming that participating in the championship had been a long-awaited dream.