Pakistan's girls fight for their place in the boxing ring
Sweat trickling down her face, aspiring teenage boxer Hoorain Zahra works on a punch combination, eager to follow in the footsteps of her idol Aliya Soomro.And like her idol, she is undeterred by the societal backlash.
Hoorain Zahra, a 13-year-old boxer from Karachi's Lyari neighborhood, trains daily to pursue her dream of becoming a professional boxer. Inspired by her idol Aliya Soomro, who made international headlines by winning an international bout in Bangkok, Hoorain remains undeterred by societal norms and expectations that deem boxing inappropriate for girls.
Soomro's triumph has sparked a newfound interest in boxing among Pakistani girls, as seen in the success of Fatima Zahra, who became Pakistan's first female Commonwealth Games boxing medallist. Despite facing opposition from society, which believes girls should remain indoors, Hoorain and her peers remain resolute. Coached by Ustad Younis Qambrani, a 56-year-old veteran trainer, the girls train in a modest room within Lyari, a neighborhood once known for gang violence and poverty but now recognized for its thriving sports scene. Qambrani believes women's boxing is crucial for empowering girls and instilling confidence in them.
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