Maria’s Story

Born a warrior.

Maria Toorpakai Wazir is not just a sportsperson, but a true pioneer of female sports in the Pakistan-Afghanistan region becoming the first Pashtun female athlete. She is a ray of hope and role model for girls around the world. She showed guts to stand against Taliban, Militants and has blazed the trail for girls in her country, Pakistan. Today, Maria has become a symbol of true courage, resilience and perseverance. Maria was born in South Waziristan, a tribal Pashtun region along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. The area is often referred to as the most dangerous place on earth for being the stronghold of Taliban and other militant groups . Maria’s journey of rebellion for equal rights began at the tender age of four-and- a-half when she burnt all her girly dresses, cut her hair short and put on her brother’s clothes. That day, her supportive father named her Changez Khan (after the famous warrior in history Genghis Khan). Maria loved to play outside, be free and engage in playing sports but girls were not allowed to go outside the house in the highly conservative tribal areas. Young girls are not allowed to go to school while girls’ participation in sports is completely out of the question. Maria for the first 12 years of her life dressed up like boys in order to be free and compete. At age 12, Maria entered her first sporting event and won the all Pakistan U-16 boys weightlifting championship in Lahore with the name Genghis Khan but soon after she fell in love with squash, the second biggest sport in Pakistan. It was then only when people realized that Maria was girl when she started playing squash but it led to extreme bullying, harassment, attacks on her and exclusion. Despite these circumstances and having no support, maria emerged as lone warrior. In a short time span, Maria became Pakistan’s unbeatable national champion and turned professional in 2007, clinched Bronze medal in the World Junior Squash 2009, double Silver medals in South Asian Games and won many international squash tournaments. Maria’s quest for equality and liberty continues through her passion for sports. Maria Toorpakai Wazir is a multiple award winning professional Pakistani Squash Champion, true humanist and leading visionary for global peace through sports. She is member of Women in Sports Commission of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Today, Maria Toorpakai Foundation (MTF) supports and promotes young girls through sports by providing equal opportunities to be free, play and explore their full potential.

Maria published her memoir, "A Different Kind of Daughter: The Girl Who Hid from the Taliban in Plain Sight".  Her documentary, "Girl Unbound: The War to be Her" world premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF.)  Maria has been featured on CNN, PBS, BBC, HBO, FOX and many more either in films or interviews.  Maria has spoken on multiple prestigious stages including the United Nations, Harvard Club, Women in the World Conference, Oslo Freedom Forum, MISK Global Forum etc.

For more, read Maria’s biography, A Different Kind of Daughter or watch the documentary about her life, The War to Be Her.