INTERNATIONAL: Wrapping their fists in bands and putting on their boxing gloves, Saudi women prepare for the Kingdom's female boxing tournament this weekend. Out of a total of twelve regulars who frequent 'Fight Club', a gym in the Saudi Arabian capital, only seven will be participating in the tournament, with one of them having only been training for two months.

The amateur boxers had been meeting once a week at the gym to spar after training solo using sandbags. But American coach Lee Starks’ arrival meant the group of women could prepare for a more professional setting.

Starks says, "So, when I first came to Saudi Arabia it was strange to see the separations of the gyms of female to male, training boxing was always something I've done whether with female or male together so it was interesting to me. But we are really excited for the tournament that's coming, and I think the women are going to do very well, we wish we had a little more time to prepare but I think they are doing very well."

Twenty-year-old Hattan al-Saif joined her fellow boxers in September and will be competing in the tournament after training for only two months. She says, "I have things inside of me that I didn't know I had and that I managed to find. Yes, it has been only two months (of training) and I can't judge just yet, but I'm happy to be participating in the tournament, which will be a big motivator for me. It’s a big thing but I hope it will push me for what's to come next."

Her teammate, Sarah Alshahrani who has been boxing for four years has another goal in mind with her participation in the competition. "This is our chance to prove that the Saudi woman is capable," she told Reuters. Organised by the Saudi Arabian Boxing Federation, the tournament will run from 10-11 December.