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Maria Toor Pakay is a 20 year old squash player. She is also one of the best in the world. She is now coached by Canadian player and squash legend Jonathon Power because she was receiving death threats from the Taliban in her native Pakistan.


Photo from the Globe and Mail

As a child Maria pretended to be a boy so that she could play sports and be active. She grew up in the Taliban controlled South Waziristan, but her liberal minded (and former college lecturer) father wanted his children to have more opportunities and supported his daughter's love of sport; therefore, he moved the family to Peshawar. At the age of 12, she was introduced to squash and from then on she would practice 8-10 hours a day inside her house because she wanted to be a world champion. Once Maria started dominating squash competitions word spread that a Pakistani female was stepping outside accepted gender norms and the Taliban warned her and her family that her actions would have grave consequences. Knowing that her squash career would go nowhere in Pakistan she started sending out hundreds of emails to squash players, coaches, and clubs seeking support. Finally, one day she received a reply, which just happened to be from one of the finest to ever pick up a squash racquet.

Jonathon Power, born in Comox, British Columbia, was the first North American player to be ranked #1 in the world for squash and won 36 titles as a professional. He opened up the National Squash Academy in Toronto and upon receiving Maria's plea for help invited her to come train in Canada, under his wing, until she becomes a world champion.


Photo from squashsite.co.uk

Maria worries that her success could create more harm than good for her family who still lives in Pakistan, but hopes that her success will also open doors for Pakistani women. In reference to Pakistan's religious militants she asks "Do they think we want to live inside four walls all our life?"

TSN aired Maria's story earlier this week and as I watched a few thoughts came to mind. First, given that I have been engrossed in the study of Orientalism I saw clashes of East vs. West, the white saviours coming to the rescue of the oppressed racialized young woman and, further reproduction of Western feminism as the benchmark of feminism for all women. But I also saw the power or sport that is so uncritically promoted truly making a difference in one person's life. Because of squash Maria has been given, and earned, an opportunity to train with the best. Because of squash Jonathon Power has the ability to extend this opportunity to Maria. It is a great feel good story and a script destined for Hollywood; however, I share Maria's concern for her family and for the women in Pakistan at large because fear of retribution is a very real possibility.

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