Nineteen-year-old Malaika Zahid has found a unique way to showcase her talent in the conservative, tribal society of Balochistan.
She has become a top-notch boxer in a society where women barely step out of their homes. Pursuing her dream to become the country’s premier boxer set her up against major obstacles. Amongst them was the fact that there was no boxing club for girls in Quetta.
That pushed her to practice at a boys training club for boxers.
Speaking to JB Connects, Malaika narrated, “I was very young at that time, so I trained with the boys and fought matches against them.”
When it became difficult to practice in the boys’ club, Malaika opened a boxing club for herself in her own house. She has fought at national level in different cities of Pakistan and won 21 gold medals in competitions. That has given her the title of National Champion five times.
Now, Malaika seeks to participate in international level matches.
Women like Malaika are deprived of social encouragement and government support, which makes her journey all the more inspiring.