Malaysian gymnast wins Gold at SEA Games, criticised for leotard

Gold medal winner Farah Ann during the women's floor excercise routine final at the 2015 SEA Games

Farah Ann Abdul Hadi, who represented her country at the 28th SEA games, which are underway in Singapore, won double gold medals at the Games. However, fringe extremist critics in her home country of Malaysia criticised Farah for her clothing, labelling her leotard 'revealing’ and ‘obscene’.

The critics themselves made obscene insinuations, alleging that Farah showed off the shape of her “aurat” (genitalia in Malay). The 21-year-old, however, was inundated with messages of support from locals and authorities, who took to social media, both hers and their own, in a show of solidarity against her critics.

She described herself as “overwhelmed by the love and support” people had shown her in the wake of the incident.

Malaysia’s Minister for Youth and Sport, Khairy Jamaluddin, came out in full public support of Abdul Hadi. His tweet:

Abdul Hadi has won a total of 6 medals at the Games, which conclude on the 16^th of June.

In gymnastics Farah wowed the judges and brought home gold. In her deeds only the Almighty judges her. Not you. Leave our athletes alone.

— Khairy Jamaluddin (@Khairykj) June 12, 2015