Fatema Akhter is set to become Bangladesh’s first female surfer to compete at the Asian Games in Japan this month, despite deep-seated cultural norms in a conservative community in her hometown of Cox’s Bazar, reports Arab News.

Fatema, 16, began surfing at nine after watching riders on the beach in the southeastern fishing town. She will compete in a sport making its debut at the continental games. Her teammate Mahima Akhter Mili will travel as a backup surfer, while Mohammad Mannan will represent Bangladesh in the men’s category.

“In our society, it is not easily accepted for a girl to wear a T-shirt and go into the water with boys. People in my neighbourhood used to tell my mother that I would turn black from the sun and that no one would marry me,” Fatema said.

After her father died, her mother worked to support Fatema and her three siblings, and the family struggled financially. Her coach, Rashed Alam, stood by her: he spoke with her mother, convinced her to allow Fatema to surf, and took responsibility for her educational expenses. “Now, my mother supports me fully,” Fatema said.

“At first, I was terrified of the massive waves, but once I learned how to stand up on the board, that fear turned into pure joy,” she said. “Surfing makes me forget all my sorrows and the struggles of my life.”

Fatema said her ambition extends beyond Japan. She wants to keep representing Bangladesh and “one day surf in the Olympics.”

For her teammate Mahima, surfing offers an opportunity to lift her family out of poverty. “I want to build a career through surfing so that I can support my parents financially and take care of my younger brother,” she said. “I want to show the world what Bangladeshi female surfers can achieve.”

Alam, who runs the Bangladesh Surf Girls and Boys Club in Cox’s Bazar — home to a 120-km uninterrupted stretch of sand — said keeping girls in the sport has been one of the main challenges of his career, citing deep-seated cultural norms and little to no support from the government or sponsors. But he is hopeful the Asian Games might change attitudes.

“If we can bring these two girls back from Japan after a good performance, people’s perspectives on surfing here in Bangladesh might change a lot,” he said.