For Berivan Jalal, born in 1995 in the city of Halabja in the Kurdistan Region, sports have been everything. 

A holder of a master’s degree in sports physiology, Jalal is best known as a champion futsal player for the Iraqi national team. Futsal is a modified version of football that is played indoors on a hardcourt and features five players on each side. Having dedicated herself to a range of sports over 15 years, including football, handball, and track and field, sports have become a driving force in her life.

Jalal’s journey began in primary school, where she participated in various sports activities. These early experiences ignited a lifelong passion for athletics, leading her to pursue a career in physical education. Witnessing the impact of sports firsthand as a teacher solidified her desire to excel in the field.

For five years, Jalal dominated at a sports institute, honing her skills and ranking first consistently. This dedication propelled her to play for numerous clubs in Kurdistan and Iraq, including Sirwan, Sharazoor, Sarchnar, Sirwani Nwe, Aphrodite, Erbil Women’s Club, Biladi Baghdadi, Halabja Shaheed, Choman, Zawra’a, and North Oil.

Throughout her impressive career, Jalal has received numerous accolades. At the youth level in 2012, she secured first- and second-place finishes in the 100-meter and 200-meter races, respectively, with Sirwani Nwe Club. In 2015, she achieved second place nationally for handball while playing for the Aphrodite club. The same year, she helped secure second place in futsal with the same club.

Her achievements extend to the international stage. In 2013, Jalal represented the Iraqi national handball team at the UAE Handball Super Cup in Abu Dhabi, clinching fifth place in the Arab countries’ championship. More recently, in 2022, she made history as part of the Iraqi national team that triumphantly won the West Asian Cup, a defining moment in her career.

Jalal’s success transcends individual achievements. In 2017, she played a pivotal role in securing Erbil Women’s Club a championship title in the Kurdistan Region’s Women Futsal League. This victory, along with Sirwani Nwe Club’s 2018 league title and Choman’s 2020 second-place finish – both with Jalal on the team – highlighted her consistent excellence. Most recently, she secured the 2022 Kurdistan Premier League title with Erbil Women’s Club.

While acknowledging the significance of all her accomplishments, Jalal emphasizes that the West Asian Cup victory was the most momentous. “Of course, all sports have a special place in my life,” she says, “but football holds a unique place. It allowed me to truly utilize my skills.” 

Jalal acknowledges the societal challenges she has faced, particularly the perception of football as a male-dominated sport. However, the West Asian Cup win served as a turning point, shattering these stereotypes. “That’s why sports are so important and special to me,” Jalal concludes, “they have the power to break barriers and inspire change.” 

Family support has been instrumental to Jalal’s success. “Family plays a vital role,” she says with gratitude. “I would like to thank my family for their unwavering support, especially my husband, who has been a constant source of strength and a wonderful life partner.”

Peshraw Mahdi is a freelance journalist and photographer with substantial experience in the field, having worked for numerous media agencies over several years. He has won multiple awards in photojournalism.