CONFUSION over proper attire overshadowed the Asian Youth Games (AYG) Fiba 33 basketball competition for the second day running when a player donning a hijab (headscarf) was told she could not play.

Kuwait had again to compete in the 3-on-3 event without captain and top player Rabab Abdullah.

The point guard had to watch from the sidelines as her team lost 0-33 to Japan on Wednesday at Anglican High School.

Yesterday, she had to sit on the sidelines again as her team fell 4-33 to South Korea in a match played at 12.45pm.

Yet the Bahrain team, with three of their members donning the hijab, were allowed to take on China (2.15pm) and play a rescheduled match against India (5pm). Bahrain lost the two matches 0-33 and 2-34 respectively.

The India match had been cancelled because of a similar dispute over the hijab on Wednesday.

Then, four athletes donning the hijab - three from Bahrain and one from Kuwait - were not allowed to take to the court after they were deemed not properly attired.

The wearing of the hijab contravenes international regulations governing the sport. Section 4.4.2 of basketball world governing body Federation Internationale de Basketball's (Fiba) Official Basketball Rules prohibits headgear and hair accessories.

But the matter was thought to have been resolved - the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) decided on Wednesday night to allow athletes at the AYG to compete in the headscarf - until it surfaced again yesterday.

Kuwait's coach, Mr Yousef Khaled, was frustrated about the discrepancy in rules.

He told The Straits Times: 'When we got back to the hotel at 2.30pm I heard Bahrain wore the hijab to play. I was surprised and thought the rules were changed just for them.'

The rules had in fact been relaxed at 7pm on Wednesday after the Bahrain team and their chef-de-mission, Mr Sameer Shawaiter, met OCA officials.

Mr Shawaiter argued that international rules should apply to world-level competitions and not regional ones like the AYG.

He added: 'We had also pointed out that it's not like the hijab is a form of head protection. It's just a scarf.'

He succeeded in persuading the officials and Bahrain were given the all-clear to compete today in their hijab.

Their Wednesday match against India, which had been forfeited as the team did not have the three-player minimum required to start a match, was also reinstated with India's blessings.

However, the change in rules was not communicated to the Kuwaitis.

The Straits Times also understands that the venue managers at Anglican High did not inform the Kuwait team of the change in rules ahead of their 12.45 match as they were awaiting official documentation of the change.

The confirmation arrived only at about 2pm.

Rabab was disconsolate yesterday, saying: 'I'm angry at missing two games. I'm important to my team as I'm the point guard and playmaker.

'It's too late now though I can play tomorrow. This was my first overseas competition and now I won't get a medal, not gold, not silver, not bronze.'

Her coach, Mr Yousef, said that women have been allowed to play in the hijab and cited the Gulf Cooperation Council Women's Games and the Arab Women's Basketball Championship as examples.

The Singapore Asian Youth Games Organising Committee referred queries on the matter to the OCA.

The AYG come under the purview of the OCA, which also oversees the Asian Games.

However, the OCA declined comment.