Maria Toorpakai: The Pakistani squash star who had to pretend to be a boy

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Maria Toorpakai Wazir is a star squash player with a promising international career. Born in Waziristan, a highly conservative region of Pakistan, she had to disguise herself as a boy when she took up the sport - and later received ominous threats for playing in shorts..............................

When she was four, she put on her brother's clothes, cut her hair and took all her girly clothes outside and had them burnt..........................

Squash is a popular sport in Pakistan and the country has produced many world champions. Women play it too - although not in Waziristan or other highly conservative tribal areas..........................

A letter was pinned to the window of Wazir's car telling him to stop his daughter from playing squash because it was "un-Islamic and against tribal traditions".

It threatened "dire consequences" if he did not act.

But he maintained that if his daughters wanted to pursue a career in sport, he would support them. ..........................

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-21799703

Wazir is the player's father's name.

[DriftingCrow]

I just listened to a story on her on PRI The World. I hope she stays safe and no one tries to kill her like they tired with Malala.