Anaya Bangar, the child of former Indian cricketer Sanjay Bangar, has publicly shared her emotional journey of gender reassignment following sex change surgery.
In a heartfelt Instagram post, Anaya detailed the challenges and triumphs she has faced over the past eleven months, particularly focusing on her hormonal transformation and its impact on her passion for cricket.
Previously known as Aryan, Anaya has been involved in cricket from a young age, playing for teams like Islam Gymkhana and Hinckley Cricket Club in Leicestershire.
Despite her love for the sport and aspirations to follow in her father’s footsteps, Anaya’s transition has posed significant challenges, including the physical changes brought on by hormone replacement therapy (HRT).
She expressed concerns about losing the strength and stamina that were crucial to her athletic performance.
Anaya highlighted the lack of clear regulations for transgender women in cricket, which complicates her goal of competing professionally.
She pointed out that recent rulings by the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) prevent trans women from competing at the highest levels, forcing her and others to reassess their future in the sport.
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Despite these hurdles, Anaya remains committed to embracing her true self and continues to play cricket at a local level, recently achieving a notable score of 145 runs in a match.
She expressed pride in her identity and her determination to stay connected to the sport she loves, regardless of the barriers she faces.
Anaya’s story serves as a powerful testament to the journey of self-discovery and the ongoing struggle for inclusion and acceptance for transgender athletes in sports.
