Indian shooter Heena Sidhu on Saturday pulled out of the Asian Airgun Shooting Championships in Iran in objection to the dress code for women at the event, The Times of India reported. Sidhu, a defending champion at the event, said asking female tourists and guests to wear a hijab was not a “sporting thing” to do.

Sidhu said that Iran was the only country that engaged in this practice. “You are practising your religion, let me practise mine,” she said when asked why she was objecting when her other teammates were ready to comply with the code. “If you are forcing your religious beliefs on me, then I don’t want to compete,” she said, adding that she had also pulled out of another event on similar objections two years ago.The shooter further said that she had informed the National Rifle Association of India about her decision to not participate 20 days ago.

NRAI president Raninder Singh said that Indian shooters had always accepted Iranian tradition while participating in events there. “We have good ties with the Iranian shooting federation and we respect their culture and tradition,” he said. “Except Heena, all other Indian women shooters have accepted it.” Last year, Sidhu won a gold at the tournament, and also contributed towards the Indian contingent winning the overall event.