Ruqsana Begum ( bn, রুকসানা বেগম; born 15 October 1983) is an English
professional
A professional is a member of a profession or any person who works in a specified professional activity. The term also describes the standards of education and training that prepare members of the profession with the particular knowledge and skil ...
kickboxer
Kickboxing is a combat sport focused on kicking and punching. The combat takes place in a boxing ring, normally with boxing gloves, mouthguards, shorts, and bare feet to favour the use of kicks. Kickboxing is practiced for self-defense, general ...
and
boxer Boxer most commonly refers to:
* Boxer (boxing), a competitor in the sport of boxing
*Boxer (dog), a breed of dog
Boxer or boxers may also refer to:
Animal kingdom
* Boxer crab
* Boxer shrimp, a small group of decapod crustaceans
* Boxer snipe ee ...
. She was a British and
World Kickboxing Association
The World Kickboxing Association (WKA) also known as World Kickboxing and Karate Association, is one of the oldest and the largest amateur and professional sanctioning body for kickboxing and Karate.
History
In 1976, the WKA was founded by Ho ...
female Atomweight (48–50 kg)
Muay Thai
Muay Thai ( th, มวยไทย, , ), sometimes referred to as Thai boxing, is a combat sport that uses stand-up striking along with various clinching techniques. This discipline is known as the "art of eight limbs", as it is characterised ...
boxing champion and captain of the British Muay Thai Team. In March 2018, Begum made the switch from professional kickboxing to boxing.
Early life
Begum was born in
Bethnal Green
Bethnal Green is an area in the East End of London northeast of Charing Cross. The area emerged from the small settlement which developed around the common land, Green, much of which survives today as Bethnal Green Gardens, beside Cambridge Heat ...
and was brought up in
Seven Kings
Seven Kings is a district of Ilford in London, England, part of the borough of Redbridge. Situated approximately two miles from Ilford town centre, Seven Kings forms part of the Ilford post town. Historically part of Essex, it was part of the ...
,
Ilford, London, England to a family of
Bangladeshi
Bangladeshis ( bn, বাংলাদেশী ) are the citizens of Bangladesh, a South Asian country centered on the transnational historical region of Bengal along the eponymous bay.
Bangladeshi citizenship was formed in 1971, when the ...
origin.
She comes from a traditional, religious family and grew up in a strict
Muslim
Muslims ( ar, المسلمون, , ) are people who adhere to Islam, a monotheistic religion belonging to the Abrahamic tradition. They consider the Quran, the foundational religious text of Islam, to be the verbatim word of the God of Abrah ...
household.
Begum's paternal grandfather moved to the
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...
from
Sylhet Division
Sylhet Division ( bn, সিলেট বিভাগ) is the northeastern division of Bangladesh. It is bordered by the Indian states of Meghalaya, Assam and Tripura to the north, east and south respectively, and by the Bangladeshi divisions of ...
,
Bangladesh
Bangladesh (}, ), officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh, is a country in South Asia. It is the eighth-most populous country in the world, with a population exceeding 165 million people in an area of . Bangladesh is among the mos ...
, to fight for the British in the
Second World War
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
.
Her father, Awlad, worked as a tailor-cum-machinist in a factory making leather jackets for high street fashion stores
and her mother, Minara, was a housewife. The family lived in a council flat among the predominantly Bangladeshi community.
She is the second eldest of four children and lives at home with her family.
Begum went to the local primary school and then to
Swanlea School. She studied
A-levels
The A-Level (Advanced Level) is a subject-based qualification conferred as part of the General Certificate of Education, as well as a school leaving qualification offered by the educational bodies in the United Kingdom and the educational au ...
in art, history, Bengali, media studies.
After studying at UzSWLU in
Tashkent
Tashkent (, uz, Toshkent, Тошкент/, ) (from russian: Ташкент), or Toshkent (; ), also historically known as Chach is the capital and largest city of Uzbekistan. It is the most populous city in Central Asia, with a population of ...
,
Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan (, ; uz, Ozbekiston, italic=yes / , ; russian: Узбекистан), officially the Republic of Uzbekistan ( uz, Ozbekiston Respublikasi, italic=yes / ; russian: Республика Узбекистан), is a doubly landlocked cou ...
, in 2006, Begum graduated with a degree in Architecture from the
University of Westminster
, mottoeng = The Lord is our Strength
, type = Public
, established = 1838: Royal Polytechnic Institution 1891: Polytechnic-Regent Street 1970: Polytechnic of Central London 1992: University of Westminster
, endowment = £5.1 million ...
. She was a trainee
architect
An architect is a person who plans, designs and oversees the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to provide services in connection with the design of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the buildings that h ...
and was made redundant after the company she worked for made cuts.
She is a part-qualified architect.
As a child, Begum played football, badminton and swimming. Since the age of five or six she has been fascinated by martial arts
and was inspired by
Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali (; born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr.; January 17, 1942 – June 3, 2016) was an American professional boxer and activist. Nicknamed "The Greatest", he is regarded as one of the most significant sports figures of the 20th century, a ...
and
Bruce Lee
Bruce Lee (; born Lee Jun-fan, ; November 27, 1940 – July 20, 1973) was a Hong Kong and American martial artist and actor. He was the founder of Jeet Kune Do, a hybrid martial arts philosophy drawing from different combat disciplines that ...
.
Professional kickboxing career
In 2002, at the age of 18, Begum took up a kickboxing class after college.
She initially did it as a hobby in secret due to concerns that her family may not approve.
She got herself a part-time job in a chemist, started university and would train every Sunday. In 2006, soon after she graduated from university, she told her family that she was practising Muay Thai,
after she had kept it a secret from her family for almost five years.
however, after they saw the gym and they didn't try to stop Begum. In 2008, she started fighting professionally.
In 2009, Begum defeated a Malaysian opponent to win a bronze medal at the World Amateur Kickboxing Championship in
Bangkok
Bangkok, officially known in Thai language, Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon and colloquially as Krung Thep, is the capital and most populous city of Thailand. The city occupies in the Chao Phraya River delta in central Thailand and has an estima ...
,
Thailand
Thailand ( ), historically known as Siam () and officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country in Southeast Asia, located at the centre of the Indochinese Peninsula, spanning , with a population of almost 70 million. The country is bo ...
.
On 27 November 2010, in her first final, Begum defeated Paige Farrington to win the British Muay Thai Atomweight Kickboxing Championship Professional title from the Duel at the Dome contest in
Doncaster
Doncaster (, ) is a city in South Yorkshire, England. Named after the River Don, it is the administrative centre of the larger City of Doncaster. It is the second largest settlement in South Yorkshire after Sheffield. Doncaster is situated in ...
.
Begum is the only Muslim woman who is a national champion in her sport.
On 31 July 2011, Begum won a gold medal at the European Club Cup Amateur Muay Thai Championship in
Latvia
Latvia ( or ; lv, Latvija ; ltg, Latveja; liv, Leţmō), officially the Republic of Latvia ( lv, Latvijas Republika, links=no, ltg, Latvejas Republika, links=no, liv, Leţmō Vabāmō, links=no), is a country in the Baltic region of ...
.
She beat a Finnish fighter to secure her place in the final and beat a Turkish fighter in the final to be awarded gold.
On 6 September 2012, Begum was nominated as British Muay Thai Team Captain and won bronze at the
International Federation of Muaythai Amateur
The International Federation of Muaythai Associations, or IFMA, called the International Federation of Muaythai Amateur until 27 July 2019, is the sole recognised sport governing body of amateur and professional Muay Thai and Muay boran consist ...
(IFMA) World Championships in
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg ( rus, links=no, Санкт-Петербург, a=Ru-Sankt Peterburg Leningrad Petrograd Piter.ogg, r=Sankt-Peterburg, p=ˈsankt pʲɪtʲɪrˈburk), formerly known as Petrograd (1914–1924) and later Leningrad (1924–1991), i ...
,
Russia
Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a List of transcontinental countries, transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia, Northern Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the ...
. On 9 September 2012, she beat
Ranini Cundasawmy from Mauritius in the quarter-final, before losing her semi-final match, on 11 September 2012, against the European champion, Chyslova Liudmila, from Belarus who proceeded to win silver.
On 13 April 2013, Begum fought
Silvia La Notte
Silvia La Notte (born 15 August 1982) is an Italian kickboxer and Nak Muay, who has been professionally competing since 2002. She is the reigning WAKO World K1 Super Flyweight champion.
She is the former ISKA World Muay Thai Atomweight champio ...
from Italy at the New Bingley Hall in
Birmingham
Birmingham ( ) is a city and metropolitan borough in the metropolitan county of West Midlands in England. It is the second-largest city in the United Kingdom with a population of 1.145 million in the city proper, 2.92 million in the West ...
for the International Sport Kickboxing Association (ISKA) World Championship.
Although Begum was leading on points, during the fourth round the fight was abandoned after she took a knock to the head.
On 14 March 2015, she contested the International Sport Kickboxing Association (ISKA) Women's straw-weight world title fight
against French national champion, Ludivine Lasnier, at the ILEC Conference Centre in
Earls Court
Earl's Court is a district of Kensington in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in West London, bordering the rail tracks of the West London line and District line that separate it from the ancient borough of Fulham to the west, the ...
, London but lost the title on points.
On 7 November 2015, she was due to contest the
World Kickboxing Association
The World Kickboxing Association (WKA) also known as World Kickboxing and Karate Association, is one of the oldest and the largest amateur and professional sanctioning body for kickboxing and Karate.
History
In 1976, the WKA was founded by Ho ...
(WKA) title against Josefine Lindgren Knutsson of Sweden in
Hackney, London,
however, after Begum suffered from a virus the fight was postponed
until February 2016 and rescheduled for 23 April
against Susanna Salmijärvi
which she contested and won.
Begum trains under Bill Judd,
and fights out of the KO Gym in
Bethnal Green
Bethnal Green is an area in the East End of London northeast of Charing Cross. The area emerged from the small settlement which developed around the common land, Green, much of which survives today as Bethnal Green Gardens, beside Cambridge Heat ...
, London.
She trains six times a week
for two hours each day, and during the build-up to a fight she trains twice a day.
She also does
yoga
Yoga (; sa, योग, lit=yoke' or 'union ) is a group of physical, mental, and spiritual practices or disciplines which originated in ancient India and aim to control (yoke) and still the mind, recognizing a detached witness-consciou ...
.
She is signed up by RDX Equipment and her main sponsor is DCD Property Company.
In September 2016, Begum signed with Shakir Entertainment Management in New York City.
Professional boxing career
In January 2018, Begum signed a three-year
a managerial contract with
Joe Joyce's handler Sam Jones
and Adam Morallee who made her their first client since forming the management company S-Jam Boxing with plans to turn professional in boxing.
She also signed with former heavyweight champion
David Haye
David Deron Haye (born 13 October 1980) is a British former professional boxer who competed between 2002 and 2018. He held multiple world championships in two weight classes, and was the first British boxer to reach the final of the World Ama ...
's Hayemaker Promotions.
In 17 March, Begum made her professional boxing debut under
Queensberry Rules against Bulgaria's Ivanka Ivanova in
York Hall
The York Hall, officially known as York Hall Leisure Centre, is a multi-purpose indoor arena and leisure complex in Bethnal Green, London, and is situated on Old Ford Road. The building opened in 1929 with a capacity of 1,200 and is now an inte ...
Bethnal Green, London, which was screened on
Channel 5,
as an undercard for the
Matty Askin
Matthew Askin (born 24 December 1988) is a British former professional boxer who competed from 2008 to 2018. He held the British Boxing Board of Control, British Cruiserweight (boxing), cruiserweight title from 2017 to 2018 and challenged once ...
vs.
Stephen Simmons fight.
Begum was scored evenly on the scorecards, 38-38, with the bout called a draw.
Other work
On top of her own professional commitments, Begum is a personal trainer and instructor. She also works as an instructor one night a week
giving free after-school
Muay Thai classes every Monday at the Lions Den Gym in
Chadwell Heath
Chadwell Heath is an area in east London, England. It is situated on the boundary of the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham and the London Borough of Redbridge, around west of Romford and east of Ilford, and north-east of Charing Cross. ...
, London
for the children in the East End.
She also coaches ladies-only classes every Sunday.
From 2006, she worked at an architectural firm in
Epping Forest
Epping Forest is a area of ancient woodland, and other established habitats, which straddles the border between Greater London and Essex. The main body of the forest stretches from Epping in the north, to Chingford on the edge of the London ...
but lost the job because of the
recession in 2008.
From 2009, she worked part-time, two days a week, as an unqualified science technician at
Swanlea School in
Whitechapel
Whitechapel is a district in East London and the future administrative centre of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. It is a part of the East End of London, east of Charing Cross. Part of the historic county of Middlesex, the area formed ...
, London.
She is a boxing and Muay Thai
coach for Fight for Peace, a charity which uses boxing as a prevention and rehabilitation model to confront the problem of child and youth participation in crime, gangs and gun violence within disadvantaged communities.
She is an ambassador for Sporting Equals, a charity who help people
from ethnic minorities to access sport, whoever you are and at all
levels.
In 2015, Begum created a
sports hijab for non-athletes for combat fighting sports and to help more Muslim women get into combat sports.
She was first inspired to create the product when she saw sprinter
Ruqaya Al-Ghasra struggle to wear a headscarf at the
2006 Asian Games
6 (six) is the natural number following 5 and preceding 7. It is a composite number and the smallest perfect number.
In mathematics
Six is the smallest positive integer which is neither a square number nor a prime number; it is the second small ...
.
She thought up the idea during the
London 2012 Olympics
The 2012 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the XXX Olympiad and also known as London 2012) was an international multi-sport event held from 27 July to 12 August 2012 in London, England, United Kingdom. The first event, the ...
when she learnt of an American athlete who was told her Islamic headscarf did not meet health and safety requirements.
The hijab is a fitted, breathable version of the traditional scarf worn to conceal Muslim women's hair and chests.
It uses breathable fabrics and is designed to fit comfortably around the head.
In April 2016, she launched her own line of sports hijabs. Begum designed her own line and outsourced manufacturing to a factory in Pakistan, after trying unsuccessfully to line up a manufacturer in England.
Media appearances
In June 2011, Begum was interviewed by Anwarul Hoque on
BBC Asian Network
BBC Asian Network is a British Asian radio station owned and operated by the BBC. The station's target audience is people "with an interest in British Asian lifestyles", especially British Asians between the ages of 18 and 34. The station has ...
.
In August 2014, she was interviewed by Sunny and Shay Grewal on
BBC London 94.9
BBC Radio London is the BBC's local radio station serving Greater London and its surrounding areas. The station broadcasts across the area and beyond, on the 94.9 FM frequency, DAB, Virgin Media channel 937, Sky channel 0152 (in the Lond ...
.
In March 2015, she was interviewed by
London Live.
In September of the same year, she was interviewed by
Sky News
Sky News is a British free-to-air television news channel and organisation. Sky News is distributed via an English-language radio news service, and through online channels. It is owned by Sky Group, a division of Comcast. John Ryley is the hea ...
.
In April 2016, Begum starred in
Selfridges
Selfridges, also known as Selfridges & Co., is a chain of high-end department stores in the United Kingdom that is operated by Selfridges Retail Limited, part of the Selfridges Group of department stores. It was founded by Harry Gordon Selfridg ...
advert ''Incredible Machines''. In February 2017, she featured in a 30-second
Adidas
Adidas AG (; stylized as adidas since 1949) is a German multinational corporation, founded and headquartered in Herzogenaurach, Bavaria, that designs and manufactures shoes, clothing and accessories. It is the largest sportswear manufactur ...
advert which tells the stories of 15 women athletes and builds on the brand's marketing around defying convention titled 'Unleash Your Creativity'.
In April 2017, Begum was interviewed by ''Sportshour'' on ''
BBC World Service
The BBC World Service is an international broadcasting, international broadcaster owned and operated by the BBC, with funding from the Government of the United Kingdom, British Government through the Foreign Secretary, Foreign Secretary's o ...
''.
In June, she was interviewed by ''
BBC Three
BBC Three is a British free-to-air public broadcast television channel owned and operated by the BBC. It was first launched on 9 February 2003 with programmes targeting 16 to 34-year-olds, covering all genres including animation, comedy, curre ...
''
for the "Like A Girl Can" campaign.
In March 2018,
David Leon
David Jeremy Leon (born 24 July 1980) is an English actor, director, writer and producer. As an actor, he is known for appearing in Rankin and Chris Cottam's 2002 feature film, ''Lives of the Saints'' (as the character Othello), and director ...
was enlisted by
Nowness
Nowness (stylized NOWNESS) is a digital video channel that was launched in 2010 by its founder Jefferson Hack as a brand of LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE. to make a short documentary called ''Endurance Test: Ruqsana Begum'' about how Begum rose to the top of her field.
Awards and recognition
In May 2012, Begum was shortlisted for the Muslim Women's Sport Foundation (MWSF) Ambassador Awards for the United Kingdom Sportswoman of the Year award held at
Wembley Stadium
Wembley Stadium (branded as Wembley Stadium connected by EE for sponsorship reasons) is a football stadium in Wembley, London. It opened in 2007 on the site of the Wembley Stadium (1923), original Wembley Stadium, which was demolished from 200 ...
.
In January 2012, she was named in the ''
British Bangladeshi Power 100
''British Bangladeshi Power & Inspiration 100'' (previously known as ''British Bangladeshi Power 100'' and often abbreviated as ''BBPower100'') is an annual publication listing the 100 leading British Bangladeshi figures. It was established in 20 ...
'' for her work in education, culture and sports.
In February 2012, she won a special achievement award at the
Canary Wharf
Canary Wharf is an area of London, England, located near the Isle of Dogs in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. Canary Wharf is defined by the Greater London Authority as being part of London's central business district, alongside Central Lo ...
Sports Awards.
In September 2013, Begum was awarded Sports Personality of the Year at the Asian Achievers Awards.
In March 2017, she was awarded the UK Sport Inspirational Performance of the Year award at the
Lycamobile
Lycamobile is a British mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) operating in 60 countries. The brand is active in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal ...
British Ethnic Diversity Sports Awards (BEDSAs) held at the
London Hilton on Park Lane
The London Hilton on Park Lane is a hotel situated on Park Lane, overlooking Hyde Park in the exclusive Mayfair district of London. It is tall, has 28 storeys and 453 rooms including 56 suites and a Michelin starred restaurant Galvin at Wind ...
.
In October 2016, Begum was named one of the "Young British Muslim Millennials Changing The World" by ''
The Asian Today
''The Asian Today'' is a free fortnightly community newspaper published and distributed in the Midlands, England.
It is a community newspaper providing the region's south-Asian community access to important news stories, current events and encou ...
''.
''Born Fighter'', the book Begum wrote with Sarah Shepherd about becoming a Muay Thai world champion, was shortlisted for the 2020
William Hill Sports Book of the Year
The William Hill Sports Book of the Year is an annual British sports literary award sponsored by bookmaker William Hill. The award is dedicated to rewarding excellence in sports writing. It was first awarded in 1989, and was devised by Graham ...
.
Personal life
Begum suffers from
chronic fatigue syndrome
Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), also called myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) or ME/CFS, is a complex, debilitating, long-term medical condition. The causes and mechanisms of the disease are not fully understood. Distinguishing core symptoms are ...
, also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME).
Begum has had to adapt her training to accommodate her condition with a strict diet and training regime.
In 2006, at the age of 22,
Begum's parents
arranged her marriage to Sayed Chowdhury, a banker from
Barking
Barking may refer to:
Places
* Barking, London, a town in East London, England
** London Borough of Barking and Dagenham, a local government district covering the town of Barking
** Municipal Borough of Barking, a historical local government dist ...
. She moved in with her husband and his parents.
Her father-in-law was on dialysis and Begum had to juggle healthcare with household duties and her career as an unqualified architect.
Eight months later,
after collapsing one morning,
she spent two days in hospital and was later diagnosed as suffering from severe panic attacks. She moved back home to her parents’ house
and spent months in bed
recuperating
In 2008, her husband filed for divorce.
She has since moved into her own flat in
Gants Hill
Gants Hill is an area of Ilford in East London, England, within the borough of Redbridge. It is a suburb east northeast of Charing Cross. It lends its name to a central roundabout where five roads meet.
History
The name likely originated ...
, Ilford, but still spends half the week with her parents, who live nearby.
In March 2012, Begum met
Queen Elizabeth II
Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21 April 1926 – 8 September 2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until Death and state funeral of Elizabeth II, her death in 2022. She was queen ...
at
Walthamstow
Walthamstow ( or ) is a large town in East London, east London, England, within the Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county of Greater London and the Historic counties of England, ancient county of Essex. Situated northeast of Chari ...
Town Hall, during the
Queen's Diamond Jubilee
The year 2012 marked the Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II being the 60th anniversary of the accession of Queen Elizabeth II on 6 February 1952. The only diamond jubilee celebration for any of Elizabeth's predecessors was in 1897, for the 60th an ...
tour of the UK.
She was selected to be an
Olympic
Olympic or Olympics may refer to
Sports
Competitions
* Olympic Games, international multi-sport event held since 1896
** Summer Olympic Games
** Winter Olympic Games
* Ancient Olympic Games, ancient multi-sport event held in Olympia, Greece b ...
torchbearer in recognition of her sporting achievements and community work, helping young people to engage in sports and giving them a focus in life
in the East London community.
On 21 July 2012, she carried the
Olympic Torch
The Olympic flame is a symbol used in the Olympic movement. It is also a symbol of continuity between ancient and modern games. Several months before the Olympic Games, the Olympic flame is lit at Olympia, Greece. This ceremony starts the Olym ...
in
Greenwich
Greenwich ( , ,) is a town in south-east London, England, within the ceremonial county of Greater London. It is situated east-southeast of Charing Cross.
Greenwich is notable for its maritime history and for giving its name to the Greenwich ...
, London.
In 2017, Begum went on a pilgrimage to
Mecca
Mecca (; officially Makkah al-Mukarramah, commonly shortened to Makkah ()) is a city and administrative center of the Mecca Province of Saudi Arabia, and the Holiest sites in Islam, holiest city in Islam. It is inland from Jeddah on the Red ...
,
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia, officially the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), is a country in Western Asia. It covers the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and has a land area of about , making it the fifth-largest country in Asia, the second-largest in the A ...
.
Championships and accomplishments
*2009 – World Amateur Kickboxing Championships
*2010 – British Atomweight Muay Thai Champion
*2011 – European Club Cup Amateur Muay Thai Championship
*2012 –
International Federation of Muaythai Amateur
The International Federation of Muaythai Associations, or IFMA, called the International Federation of Muaythai Amateur until 27 July 2019, is the sole recognised sport governing body of amateur and professional Muay Thai and Muay boran consist ...
World Championships
*2016 –
World Kickboxing Association
The World Kickboxing Association (WKA) also known as World Kickboxing and Karate Association, is one of the oldest and the largest amateur and professional sanctioning body for kickboxing and Karate.
History
In 1976, the WKA was founded by Ho ...
Champion
Professional boxing record
See also
*
British Bangladeshi
British Bangladeshis ( bn, বিলাতী বাংলাদেশী, Bilatī Bangladeshī) are people of Bangladeshi origin who have attained citizenship in the United Kingdom, through immigration and historical naturalisation. The term ...
*
List of British Bangladeshis
This is a list of notable British Bangladeshis ( bn, উল্লেখযোগ্য বিলাতী বাংলাদেশীদের তালিকা). This includes Bangladeshi immigrants settled or residing in the United Kingdom a ...
*
List of female kickboxers
This is a list of notable female kickboxers. This list shows kickboxers and professional competitors of other martial arts such as bama-lethwei (burmese boxing), kickboxing, pradal serey (khmer boxing), sanshou (sanda), savate boxing and shoot ...
References
External links
*
*
Ruqsana Begumon Arches Boxing Gym
*Rahman, Hasan Hafizur
British Bangladeshi Female Boxer Ruksana Begum ''
NTV NTV may refer to:
Television
* NTV (Bangladesh), a Bengali-language satellite television channel in Bangladesh
* NTV (India), Telugu regional channel
* NTV (Kenya)
* NTV (Mongolia), a television channel based in Mongolia
* NTV (Newport Televis ...
''. 12 June 2012
*Whittington, Jessica
Brilliant Begum – Sportsister meets Britain’s Muay Thai champion ''Sport Sister''. 26 October 2012
{{DEFAULTSORT:Begum, Ruqsana
1983 births
Living people
English Muslims
English people of Bangladeshi descent
English Muay Thai practitioners
Female Muay Thai practitioners
English female kickboxers
Flyweight kickboxers
English women boxers
Super-flyweight boxers
English sports coaches
English fashion designers
Sportspeople from London
Boxers from Greater London
People from Bethnal Green
People from Ilford
People educated at Swanlea School
Alumni of the University of Westminster
People with chronic fatigue syndrome
British women fashion designers