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| Salma (above) and Saddi have formed a new sporting partnership |
MOST of us have heard of Amir Khan and Shahid Afridi, but how about Ibtihaj Muhammad or Sania Mirza?
All four are accomplished Asian sporting figures who follow the Muslim faith.
But while male role models Khan and Afridi enjoy great wealth and worldwide adulation through their successes in the sports of boxing and cricket respectively, female icons Ibtihaj, an international fencer, and top level tennis talent Mirza receive nothing like the same recognition.
We live in the 21st century, yet still even these days the very mention of Asian women succeeding in sport can be met with an element of surprise, or even disdain.
However, times are changing and two young female pioneers from Birmingham are determined to buck the trend.
Cricketer Salma Bi and footballer Saddiqa Shan have already proved what they are capable of - but now they aim to inspire many others to be like them.
Saddiqa, popularly known as Saddi, has joined forces with Salma to promote Sporting Pathways, a scheme set up in the Birmingham area to increase female participation in sport.
National award-winning Salma made history as the first Muslim girl to play for Worcestershire County Cricket Club and Saddi also achieved a first as the first ever Muslim female to represent Solihull Ladies FC, who have just been promoted to the Midland Combination League.
It's not always the norm for an Asian girl to participate in any form of sports outside school hours or above the age of 16.
Yet despite facing family pressures, criticism, lack of financial support or a guide to put them on the right track, Salma and Saddi found the paths to achieve their goals.
They now want others like them with similar ambitions to do the same.
Salma, 27, not only plays cricket for women's teams, she also turns out regularly for men's sides in the Birmingham area.
She is among the few club coach level 2 and level 1 umpires running sessions at the state-of-the art S&S Indoor Cricket Centre in Birmingham.
Despite her sporting commitments, Salma has also managed to host record-breaking charity events under the banner of Sporting Pathways - Raising Profiles, which have included 10 and 20-hour futsal marathons, two indoor T10 World Cup cricket tournaments and a World Dodge Ball competition, since March last year.
The reason for organising these events was two-fold - raise money for deserving causes and encourage female participation in sport.
Salma also runs the first ever Asian futsal team to compete in the Birmingham League - The Great White Sharks.
As well as being a prolific wicket taker in county and club cricket with her spin bowling, Salma represents the MCC and recently played against Japan.
A regular pundit for the BBC Asian Network and an ambassador for many sporting projects, she is also guiding the sporting careers of her sisters.
Aisha, 18, has been offered a futsal scholarship, while Anisha, 17, is a Warwickshire U17s player.
The cost of living does not pay for itself, though, and Salma has to combine all of her sporting activities with a career as a dialysis nurse.
For some time, Salma has ploughed a lone furrow in her mission to get more Asian women involved in sport, but now Saddi has joined her as an ambassador for Sporting Pathways.
The 21-year-old has already made waves as part of this season's promotion-winning Solihull squad and her input was highlighted when she won the Players' Player of the Season Award.
Saddi is turning heads by being unique in her ways of not only playing football but believing in herself no matter how tough things can get.
She was offered a soccer scholarship with FirstPoint USA but missed out due to certain barriers at that stage in her life.
However, this did not stop her later getting opportunities to play for West Bromwich Albion and Birmingham City teams before signing for Solihull.
She still does development work with Birmingham City and occasionally for Warwickshire Cricket Board alongside her quest to eventually play football at the highest level in the FA Super League.
Saddi also represents the football team at Coventry University, where she is studying physiotherapy with the prospect of running her own clinic in the near future.
She has also joined the Great White Sharks, who play in the Birmingham Futsal League Premiership every Wednesday.
Having gained the experience of doing voluntary work and organising exhibition events, Saddi looks forward to working alongside Salma promoting sporting activities across the country with the prospect of working towards her coaching badges, as well aiming to become a role model for the younger generation.
One of the best ways of highlighting talent is by bringing it all together under one roof at a glitz event.
In October, the Asian Football Awards will be staged at Wembley, the home of football and a platform to make dreams come true.
Saddi is one of the nominees for the Asian Female Footballer of the Year accolade. If she was to win it, it would be the first piece of recognition for her talents.
"We all create our own journey in the hope that one day we will achieve our dreams," said Salma.
"If we can't grasp one opportunity, we can find a way to create another one that gets us closer to our goals.
"Being an Asian female can mean we need to sacrifice a lot either for family or personal reasons because that's how society sees it, but we can also be proud to be Asian because that's what makes us stand out, and against all odds get that one bit closer to the ultimate goal."
