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Sporting Witness: Defying the Taliban

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30/04/2020 GMT

Defying the Taliban

BBC World Service - Sporting Witness, Defying the Taliban

How Pakistan's Maria Toorpakai Wazir battled death threats to become a squash player.

How Pakistan's Maria Toorpakai Wazir battled death threats to become a professional squash player.

In December 2012, Maria Toorpakai Wazir reached the top 50 of women’s squash after an extraordinary struggle to become a professional player. Born in the tribal areas of Pakistan, Maria’s family disguised her as a boy until she was a teenager so she could try sport. After the Taliban discovered her true identity, Maria was threatened and she went into hiding until a Canadian former squash champion got her out of Pakistan.  She talks to Ashley Byrne. The programme is a Made-In-Manchester Production.

PHOTO: Maria Toorpakai Wazir (Getty Images)

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