Pakistani girls pursue boxing amid societal challenges in Lyari
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Aug 26, 2026, 2:14 AM
Last updated Aug 26, 2026
Teenage boxer Hoorain Zahra practices at a boxing club in Karachi's Lyari town, inspired by national champion Aliya Soomro. Last month, Fatima Zahra became the first Pakistani woman to win a Commonwealth Games boxing medal, earning bronze. Despite facing cultural restrictions and societal backlash, these young athletes pursue their passion for boxing to prove their strength and ability. Their coach, Ustad Younis Qambrani, has trained many female fighters, encouraging them to break free from societal confines. The local community has a history of producing notable athletes, with ongoing support from some parents.
- •Hoorain Zahra trains in Karachi while idolizing boxer Aliya Soomro.
- •Fatima Zahra secured Pakistan's first female boxing medal at the Commonwealth Games.
- •Lyari, known for its boxing athletes, faces cultural restrictions on women in sports.
- •Ustad Younis Qambrani has coached girls in boxing for over a decade.
- •Parents of female boxers support their daughters' sports ambitions.
- 2:14 AMYahoo Sports — 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.
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