Community role model

"The reasons my mum would ask me to stop were just because of community backlash - but now that she has found that the community is actually OK with it, she has become OK with it," says Ali.

"In fact, she is really supportive now. You can't imagine the relief and excitement you get from having a conversation about something you love with someone you love - it's just an incredible feeling."

Ali is also getting never-ending support from the very community her mother was once so concerned about.

"Every day I am getting messages from people saying: 'You are doing incredible things for our country, you are raising awareness for our country, a country that has been associated with war and famine for so long, so you are bringing a positive light to the country - thank you so much'."

Even though some in the community still disapprove, including some elder siblings, the aim is to go several steps further.

Somalia has never sent a boxer to the Olympics nor won a medal before - but Ali is targeting both in 2020.

Whether she succeeds or not, she believes she has already triumphed.

"I had a Muslim mother message me on social media saying: 'My daughter saw an interview of you and has now signed up for boxing - she is 10'.

"That's amazing so if you could do that throughout your career, you'd have won."