The Iranian climber caused controversy by competing in an international contest without a veil. She has said she climbed without a hijab unintentionally.
DUBAI, Oct 19 - Iranian climber Elnaz Rekabi, who caused controversy by competing in an international contest without a headscarf, has returned to Iran to cheering supporters, reiterating in comments to state media she had climbed without a hijab unintentionally.
In comments to state TV upon her arrival in Tehran, Rekabi said she had returned in "full health" and apologised to "the people of Iran for the turbulence and worry that I created", her head covered by a baseball cap and a hood as she spoke.“The struggle that I had with wearing my shoes and preparing my gear made me forget about the proper hijab that I should have had, and I went to the wall and ascended," she added.
In her televised comments Rekabi, who came fourth in the competition, denied she had been unreachable for 48 hours, and said the team had returned to Iran as planned. She said she had no plan to quit the national team.
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